
Book _ ...L_X2^ 



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O-^' 






MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S 



LIFE OF 



ANDREW JACKSON 



THE 



LIFE OF 



ANDREW JACKSON, 



PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS CUTS. 



BY 



]?f AJOR JACK D01VNI]\C^, 



DOWNINGVILLE MILITIA 



Our virtues would be proud, if our vices whipt'em not. 

Old Proverb. 



PHILADELPHIA r-ig^lv/ 



PUBLISHED BY T. K. GREENBANK. 
1834. 



^t^ 



^ 6 



Entered accoiding to Act of Congress, in the year 1834, 

By John Clarke, 

in the Clerk's Office, of the Disliict Court, of the Eastern District of 

Pennsylvania. 



JOHN CLARKE, PRINTER, NO. /, FRANKLIN PLACE. 



\Y 



DEDICATION 

To Major Gineral Andrew Jackson, President of the United 
States of America. 

Grate Sir, 

This work owes so much tu you, that 
I'd be ungrateful not tu dedicate it tu your 
Excellency. I don't presint it from any 
sinister intention. I'm satisfied with the 
commission you've bin pleas'd tu bestow, 
tell I earn a higher one in the next war, 
or tell I beat Martin in the contest for the 
Presidency, when I can commission my- 
self. 

The bisness of a Dedication, gineral, is 
tu flatter. It wou'dn't be a dedication at 
all if the person tu whom it is ofFer'd 
warn't well incens'd. The numerous graces 



( viii ) 

which are reveal'd in your character are 
nothiii compar'd with the virtues you don't 
stand in no need of. An apology may be 
necessary for not addin still more briteness 
tu your glory, but I fear'd that, hidden in 
your own resplendence, you mite become 
unapproachable, or, what is worse, take jfire 
and be consumed. 

Were I tu inscribe this work tu any other 
than yourself it wou'd be manifest ingrati- 
tude. Tu w^hom can I look wath more awe 
than tu the gratest of men, or with more 
confidence than tu him who has honer'd me 
with his friendship and society. All your 
designs are majestic; they are grater than 
the life ; nature has mistaken her match, 
and given you so much odds that you can 
easily out-run her. As you have kept a 
watchful eye tu my interests, I can't do 
less than rite for your glory ; and as you 
are a genius in every thing you undertake, 
so no less eloquence is necessary in describ- 
in it tho' tu do full justice requires a 



(ix) 

seraph's fire, and a pen made of a feather 
pluck'd from an angel's wing. 

The many qualities of your hed and 
hart, when I think on 'em, make my very 
hare stand on eend in fare surprise. A hull 
book wou'dn't tell 'em all. You are not 
oney the last of the Romans, but the first 
of your people, and the greatest and best. 
Affable, gentle, bland, polite, majestic, you 
are all that can command the profound ho- 
mage of my respect; nor is it in my power 
tu name the many perfections that adorn 
your character, or the virtues that, seated 
in your hart, send forth constant emana- 
nations of beneficence tu your people when 
they humbly presint 'emselves in your 
presence. In short. Sir, you are n't jist yet 
a God, and yet you have recognized the 
title by justly rewardin the man whose 
piety made the discovery and announc'd tu 
the world that you are "The rock of 

AGES !" 

Without consuming more of your pre- 



cious time, so wisely exerted for the good 
of the present, as its precedent will be an 
illustrious example for the imitation of 
your successors in all future generations, I 
conclude with assuring you how much I 
am, 

Most glorious Sir, 

Your obedient servant, 
tell I'm ded, 

JACK DOWNING, 



PREFACE. 



There has bin so many attempts made tu rite the life of gU 
neral Jackson, none of which giv'd his character in the true 
lite, or made his glory shine with the briteness requir'd by his 
valour in the field or his wisdom in the counsels of the nation, 
that artor f.onsultin the gineral and axin his advice and assist- 
ance, I resolv'd on the work. 1 have now the pleasure of lay- 
in afore my readers his life, battles, hare-breth 'scapes, and 
glorious administration. Much pains has bin taken tu have 
it perfect as possible. Some things have bin omitted for want 
of room ; and others inserted not noticed by any of the authors 
who rited afore me. Without the gineral's aid I cou'dn't 
have made it what it is. 

In ritin this life I was compell'd tu mix the ]anguidge of 
the south, west, and middle states, with the pecular frasology 
of Maine, lest the folks in the south wou'd be affronted. The 
folks who've read my letters mustn't suppose that the gineral's 
life cou'd be rit in the same space, intirely in my former way, 
and contain the same variety of incident as the letters. Tu 
make my book read all over I've us'd the words of the folks all 
over, so that every one of 'em may have a leetle of his own. 

The facts related in this book are stated pretty much in 
reg'lar order of time. It wasn't possible tu put in every thing 
that the gineral said and did, 'cause he lias bin in a blaze of 
glory eny most evei- since he was born. The gineral has 
honer'd me with his warm friendship; he has corrected many 
of my mistakes ; he has furnished me with some of the most 



( xii ) 

important facts, and enabled me, without pullin down former 
lives tu build new ones, tu give the oney true and faithful life 
of the gineral, and the new Jackson sect that has jist sprung 
up, that has ever bin rit. Tu him I owe my honers and my 
fame ; he has bin my patron and protecktor ; he continues tu 
honer me with his confidence, and lu favor me with his regard; 
and he says he'll never be offended at my bold, honest plainness 
intellin him all the folks say about him 'cause he has tri'd me 
long and caaeafely depind on me. He says, I'm no parasite; I 
won't never cringe like Martin for his influence tu make me 
president arter him, and that arter all the submissions of Mar- 
tin, he's a leetle balanc'd atween me and him, and in a quan- 
dary which tu support. 

" And now I'n) near an eend, and I guess as how I've done 
it pretty slick. I raley think this account of the Life, Adven- 
turs. Battels, Hare-breth 'scapes, and the Glorious Adminis- 
tration ol the Gineral, is the cutest thing I've ever rote. The 
Gineral tell'd me plainly it was a master work, and that he 
wou'd rite tu Dr Quinzy of HavertUnivarsity tu git me made 
a Master of Arts. I think this beats my letters all holler, and 
that my reputashion as a riter will be stablish'd by it, and go 
down tu posterity sempitarnal with the Gineral's. I have rit 
it all from the Gineral's own mouth, for when I forgot what he 
tell'd me, 1 went and ax'd him over agin, and if 1 hadn't made 
it myself, why I swou it wou'd a bin Oto-biografy." 

The Author. 



MAJOR 

JACK DOWNING'S 

LIFE OF ANDllEW JACKSON &c, &c, 



CHAPTER L 



f 



Berth of Andrew Jackson, His Ansestors. Fitin in 
Irelan. His father a republikan. His mother a 
heeroine. Cums tu Charleston S. C. Settles at 
Waxsaw. His mother instruckts him in Irish fitin 
and cronikles, which lade the foundashion of his 
gratenes. His sperit shoivin itself in pettikotes. 
His paradin and shootin niggers with a corn stalk. 
His mother^ s dreem. She gose tu a Nickrymanser 
tu learn his fate. The konjurer tells hisforten by the 
stars. He draws a Horry skope and explanes it. The 
Revolushion brakes out. Andrew^s mother sends her 
sons tu fite. Robbert gits kilPd with the heat at the 
battel of Stono. Hew and Andrew resolve tu revenge 
his death. Hew and Andrew taken by the Inglish 
and tories. He refuses tu black an officers boots and 
gits a cut on his arm. Hew, for refusin tu black 
them gets a cut on his hed. Dies soon arter. His 
mother dies. Left alone tu shift thro the world. 

The berth of Andrew Jackson tookplace^on the 15th 

of March 17 QT, presisely ten minits arter 12 o'clock 

in day time. I'm perticklar in the time for reasons tu 

be given bime by. His father cum'd from Irelan, some- 

A 



55 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 

where near Carrickfargis, a town onct beseedged in 
the old Wars, where one of his forbears foute bravely. 
His father was a rale tru blu republikan, and well tride. 
He woudn't pay nother tjthes, taxes, rent, nor any 
sich thing, but wud be independent of every body. 
Becase of his republikanism the government persekut- 
ed him wickitly, and havin his mind made up, bein a 
determint carackter, he moov'd from the country rather 
nor submit, and sailM for Charleston, South Carolina. 
From there he went to Waxsaw, and boiit a farm, and 
begun to chop, ho, and plant like a good feller. He 
brout with him tu chaps of boys, Robbart and Hew, 
Andrews brothers, but Andrew wasn't born yit, for he 
was born tu years arter they cum'd tu Waxsaw, and 
therefore he is an American by berth, in spite of all sade 
tu make him out Irish. 

His mother was a very good, knowin woman, and 
well learned in all the cronikles of Irelan. When 
Andrew begun tu prattle, she tell'd him a nation site of 
long yarns about the wars and fitin and bloddy mur- 
ders of her country; so that when he warn't no bigger 
nor a pitcher, he knew all the stories and adventurs of 
the Irish rogues,and raj^arees, and the seeges, and bat- 
tles among the old fitin carackters of that country. This 
give him a delite in all sich things, and fitin of every 
kind, and for sertin lade the foundashion of that fame 
and gratenes which fites and broiles has givin him, 
and made him love a hickory shelala even tu this day. 
Young Andrew bein instruckted in the history and 
art of Irish fitin, begun when a leetle chap tu delite in 
sogerin and drillin. Before he shed his pettikotes 
arter his mother had tell'd him about the glory of fitin 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



in Irelan, and the battels atweea the White boys, 
harts of Oke, harts of Steel, peep of day boys, and all 
the skrimmigin atween the faxions in that are country, 
leetle Andy, as they sometimes call'd him, for among 
the Irish every man and women has a nickname, begun 
tu show his sperit. He'd git a corn stalk,^and a nigger 
with tu stones tu beat time for martchin, by strikin them 
tugether, and a heeboddys tale stuck in a straw hat for 
a ginerals fether, and wud parrade and drill amost all 
the live long day. The leetle niggers us'd tu humor his 
fancy pritty considerable, by learnin him tu presint his 
corn stalk gun, and fire! and then they'd fall down as if 
kill'd. One day his mother, seein him killin the wee 
niggers by dozens in this way, cotcht him up, and sade 
he^'was a leetle man arter her own hart, and wud some 
day be a grate gineral. She then took a notion in her 
hed that as Andy was born tn be grate, it was her 
duty tu prepare him for actin it. She sot about it at 
onct, by tellin him all the adventurs,and fair fites, and 
robberies, and murders of her country; and he soon 
lov'd them tailes so well that by axin her tu tell them 
often he got them all by hart, and tu satisfy and amuse 
him, made a site of 'em that never took place. 

While preparin her leetle chap for glory she had a 
dreem one nite. She thout that she saw her Andy 
standin on the tip top of a high mountin. While won- 
drin at the site, she saw a prodigous raft of peeple 
crowdin around its bottom on all sides, while at his 
motion they'd all up caps and seta hoorain, till the 
very hevens were rent and the birds and bests were 
fritened and fell ded. As she stood gazin and wondrin 
at Andy's gratenes and the strange site, the mountin 



4 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

give a fearful shake for all the world like a hoss that 
wonts tu throw his rider. Then the mountin begun tu 
sink down, and down, gradallj, till it cum'd tu a level 
witli the hoorain croud, who now become so terrified 
as you ever see, tu no what was cornin to pass. Jist 
then a leetle man in the croud made a bold jump and 
got astride Andy's sholders. An attempt was made 
tu raise the hoorain over agin, but it quickly dide, and 
soon a thick black cloud arose from the place where the 
mountin was, when she got so peskilly skeered, she 
w^akM with afrite. 

This dreem work'd at sich a rate upon Andy's moth- 
er, she cou'dn't shake it out day or nite. She guest 
there was sum grate meanin in it, and got all the dreem 
books, and red them thro and thro, but cou'dn't git any 
thing tu settle her mind. By good luck there cum^l 
jist then tu Waxsaw an old Nickrymanser, who kon- 
jur'd tu tell ail the folks their fortens. Every boddy 
run arter him, and beleev'd him. He skeert all the 
boys and gals in the neeburhood, for all their secrets 
cum»d out slick as a whistle. He tell'd Nabby Nixon 
she \vud be marrid in a week, and sure enuft' so she 
was, tho then she hadn't no sweethart. He tell'd squire 
Bobtale that his big hoss Nimrod wud die in tu days, 
and he dide rite off*. Every thing went like clock work, 
jist as he said. 

Tu this konjurer Andy's mother went, bringin with 
her the heero of the corn stalk artillery. She found 
the konjurer in a small, dark room, lit with oney one 
lamp, and that burn'd dimly. He was a leetle man, 
with a long white beerd, drest in a black sirplus and 
cap with a tossle on top as red as blazes. He had on 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 5 

a table before him, globes, maps, compases, skales, and 
a nation site of queer things as you ever see. Leetle 
Andy was brout foward, but on seein the strange figger 
of a man, he cotcht up a stick, and let fly, makin a 
lick at the black cap,on the Nickrymanser's hed. The 
old man, arter sum coaxin, got away the stick, call'd 
Andy a leetle heero, and promis'd to tell his fortin, 
which from his reddy use of the stick and his incli- 
nashion, he mite predickt without a word from the 
stars. 

Havin know'd what Andy's mother wanted, and in- 
quired the year, day, hour and minit of his berth, for 
says he, if it is fifteen minits tu early or tu late the stars 
wont tell a wordj as they must have truth, he made a 
few fugle motions and sifered them down in his book. 
The book he us'd was the queerest thing you ever see. 
It was kiver'd with hireglifix and pickters like all 
natur, and was tide with a red ribbin, with a cross on 
outside. 

The konjurer now drewtu squares one outside tother, 
atween which he made twelve trangles. These he 
call'd houses of heven. Intu these houses he put sines, 
and stars, and plannits, and the sun, and moon. Havin 
fill'd them he begun to calculate as fast as a boss cud 
trot. You never see how he wud sifer it, every onct 
and a while lookin intu his book. He wud atone time 
put in a star, at another a trine, then a square, and agin 
a moon or plannit, till they were chuck full, and as 
trig as a hare. By this time Andy's mother got skeert, 
thiukin the konjurer wud next pull down the skies. 
Arter examinin the trangles he wud stroke down his 
beerd and mumble sum greek or lattin. He look'd for 
A 2 



b MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

all life at Andy. Havin gottin thro, he tell'd his 
mother he had grate news from the stars about her son. 
Here ma'am says he, I have drawn out a horrjskope 
of his future destenj. It ain't my custom tu explane, 
but oney tell what jist is tu be. But this lad is born 
for no common desteny, and I'll tell ye what is tu cum 
tu him, and this nashion,sc that you may prepare him for 
the sartin fate awatin him. Here ma'am, is the 

HORRYSKOPE OF ANDREW JACKSON. 




EfSmri 






A ANCrdACKSON 
BORN ■ 



2X. io>™^-p™- -I • 



^il^ 



mm 



¥;^A^^^ 



This theme of the hevens is big with wonders. It 
fartells the fate of a man born to command. Here 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 7 

are mistries, by this wonderful art brout to lite, 
which will make the astral science the admirashion 
of the world. Your son, ma'am was born in the tru 
medium cceli, whose cusp the sun culminates at mid 
day — videlizet,in the 10th house, which denoats honor, 
preferment, renown, and authority. But the many 
fortenate stars, plannits and sines in it at the time of 
his berth, makes his gratenes a ded sertinty. You see 
in the cusp here stands sol spreddin glory, his beems 
reflecked by Jupter, Mars, Merkry and Venis. All 
these are fortenate when ritely posited, and they are so 
far so in this, as tu show that he will stand fust among 
the grate. He was born in the sine Arees, or the ram, 
which denoats that he will be fearful tu butt down his 
inemies. But the sine Arees pritty well cumin up tu 
Taurus, or the bull, shows he will horn as well as butt, 
and Vvill drive all before him. You see hear, ma'am, 
next to sol, Jupter and Venis promisin grate imenince. 
Were these alone, nothin in natur cud stand afore 
him. There is Merkry promisin wit, wisdom, and 
honors in learnin ; and Mars send in his red beems 
like blood and battel, tellin that he will conquer and 
destroy his inemies. There Venis stands tu, forty-five 
degrees from Mars, showin that he will be famus for 
protecktiii the fair sex and will be marrid twice. But 
^Merkry in opposishion with the star Kaput Algol Madu- 
see, strangly tells he will have but one wife. This is 
singlar. I dont understand it. Venis is in trine with 
Merkry, showin he will be fond of fitin and will be 
often in grate peril, and yet always be safe, and as 
Merkry carries a kaducees twin'd with snakes, so he 
will be a nation feller with a hickory, and ^ill lay 



8 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

about him like hages, when angry. But the hand of 
Oiphincus in conjunckshion with Mars afflickts the 
hjleg, and shows that whatever friends may, inemies 
must not expeckt mercy, for that he Ml never forgive 
except for his own interest. But there is one plannit 
in that house that trubbles me. I wish he warnt there. 
They call him Sattern. He is a wickit feller, £tnd has 
a bad influence over tother stars and plannits. He be- 
secges Jupter in Quartale and spiles his influence when 
h^ was goin tu give him over tu immortality. See how 
he sinds his leddin lite thro the draggin's tale at Jupter 
amost tu convert him intu a destroyer. It is fortenate 
he didn't approach till his glory was at the full. Pity 
he cum'd even late tu eclipse the splendor of his 
fame. But you see how it worrys the temper, burns the 
brane, and corrupts the principals. Oh, that Aldbran 
had bin near ; but instead there's the Eagle in 
Capricorn, denoatin he will be beset late in life with 
intrested inemies but pretendin friends. They will 
clip off his glory, and pleadees in next house threatens a 
bad kind of blindnes for cure of which specks may be 
made, but the Eagle's beak will brake them as fast as 
us'd. In this time he will need, what he mayn't know 
lie'll need, tru friends. The nashion will feel it, be 
uneasy, and mourn. If he be infeckted with the 
reptiles in the Eagle, in spite of all natur he will jist 
squinch his glory in a puddle while beleevin it inex- 
tino-uii?hablc, and the hooras of tiie nashion will be 
converted intu dismal hissis. He will do what others 
will try tu imitatp, but cannot, and will leave behind 
him an example which will eclypse his glory and 
make his friends dissert him, fiom which heven pro- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. y 

teckt him, Jist as he sade this, he threw the horryskope 
at the mother and disappear'd in a flash ! The mother 
of Andy, skeert amost tu deth, streakt it home for her 
bare life, carrjin Andy with her. The horryskope has 
been sav'd, and put intu my hands with this account, 
tu show folks, that if they oney manage well and 
keep a good luck out till the stars and plannits git jist 
rite, all their sons may some day be grate men. 

The mother of Andrew Jackson, beleevin all she 
seed and heerd from the konjurer, set rite at onct to 
prepare him for the mighty work afore him. She sent 
him tu skoole tu study all the languidges, livin and 
ded. Tu the mt)ther the news that her son wud be a 
grate man was agreeable. No one dislikes a gospel, 
even from a konjurer, which tells good of him. Andy 
was tell'd that he was made tu be grate, and all his 
calculashions follow'd in this track. If he got intu a 
skrape he new his life was safe: if he got a skratch, 
he new it wud heal up. A little row was oney britnin 
up his wits, and a skrimmagc was oney tu show the blood 
was tru, and that he was worthy of his forbears. In - 
this way he grew up tell he was fourteen years old, when 
the revolushion brout them up all standin, and call'd 
every man and boy who cud sholder a musket tu rally 
under the colors of his country. His mother, knowin 
all wud turn tu Andy's account, becom'd zellus for 
liberty, and sent Hew, Robbert, and Andy tu the field. 
Hew dide of heat at the battle of Stono, and Robbert 
and Andy resolved tu revenge his deth, and studdied 
military tackicks to qualify them for doing it proper- 

Major Coffin's lite dragoons and some infantry havin 



10 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

bin guided by the tories to Waxsaw, routed the 
settlers. They rallied agin in hope of gittin safe tu 
their homes, and the aid of neeburs tu fite the foe. 
But the inemy by a roos-day-gur cum'd upon them^ 
some were taken, others scattered, and the inemy was 
victorious. Robbert and Andy, fled, but comin from 
the woods agin, the tories betray 'd theni and they tu 
were taken. They were placed under gard, but Andy, 
bein commandid tu black an officers boots, positively 
refused, and claim'd the rites of a prisoner of war. The 
officer gittin mad at his sassiness, drew his sword and 
made a cut at his hed. Andy threw up his left arm 
and received a woond, which marked him tu this day, 
and for which he deserves everlastin gratitude and 
honor. His brother, for a like refusal got a blow on 
his hed, which cut him deeply, and not bein drest, 
ended in a flamashion of the brane, of which he dide 
soon arter. Andy's mother, who had heeroickaly pusht 
her sons intu the war, findin tu of them gone, and her 
own mind perplextand herboddy afflickted dide of her 
trubbles and grief, leavin Andy tu shift alone in the 
world as best he cud, but lamentin with her latest 
breth that she warn't spar'd tell she wud see the 
fulfilment of her dreem and the Nickrymanser's wun- 
derful predixion. 



CHAPTER II. 

Andrew Jackson recovers from his woonds, and has the 
small pocks. Intendid for the pulpit. Prefers the lata. 
Revises the lattin Settels at NashviL Difficulties, 
Boards with Captin Robharts, Gits intu a snarl 
with the Captin. Quarts. Challenges the Captm, 
Gosc to Snatches to proteckt Mrs. Rohbarts Mar- 
ries her. Marries her over agin when she was devorct. 
Made a gineral of Elected tu make a Constitushion 
for Tenesee. Begins tu be a dimocrat. Gose tu 
live at the Hermitage. Is famus for his fitin-cox 
and rase-hosses. His duillni. 

Andrew bein releas'd from prison recover'd of his 
woond. But havin got his feet wet, and bein left 
alone in the world, he got a mortal bad spell ot sick- 
nes, tu help which tho small pocks cum'd on and 
amost carried him off. 

On gettin well he took possession of his farm, which 
he sold tu pay his expenses of skoolin. But he wasn't 
content with a prudent expenditur. He wud frolic, 
and have a spree, and do a little at cok fitin and boss 
rasein, and sich like ways of sowen his wild otes, thro 
which he tell'd me he injured his futur prospects.— 
Bime by he found his property amost spent, and he 
thot frolic wud'nt feed him alwase, so he begun tu 



12 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

study agin, tu revise and correct the ded languidges, 
besides readin a leetle law. 

His pius mother seein his serious inclinashion, 
designed him for the pulpit; but bein ded, he cheated 
the gospel, and turned to the law, and in a tvvinklin, 
so grate was his genious, became perfect, and took out 
a lisense. This was in the year 1786. 

Findin thepeeple so peacable in North Carolina, where 
he got his law, he determined tu seek his forten in the 
far west. He sot out for Tenesee by way of the wil- 
dernes, and arter lookin round a spell, at last squatted 
down at Nashvil. He was accompanied by Mr. 
McNairy and others, and jest cum'd in the nick of time 
tu make his forten. There was but one lawyer in the 
place, and he cudn't act on both sides, so the next 
mornin arter he got tu Nashvil he had seventy clyantsl 
His succes sot his opponent hoppin mad, and he mus- 
ter'd a party to drive him out of the country. But Mr. 
Jackson was their man, and equal tu oney on 'em for 
hard nocks.; so that tu drive him out, where so many 
were intrested tu keep him in, was no easy job, and he 
at long and at last got firmly fixed. He was soon ar- 
ter appinted aturney gineral, and made munny like 
shell in corn in winter, tho' his ginerous sperit and his 
frollickin made him spend it like a true gintleman. 

Mr. Jackson was now about twenty tu years old. — 
He went tu live with a Captin Lewis Robbarts, in com- 
pany with judge Overton. The captin and his wife 
kept up a snarlin and squabblin all the time. The 
wife was a fine, good, clever woman, as cud be, but the 
husband was for all the world like a wasp. Fretful 
and full of green ey'd jellusy, he made his kind and af- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 13 

fecshionate wife very unhappy. At last they parted, 
and she went tu live with a friend. The squabble was 
then made up, and she tried it agin tu live with him. 
At furst his jellusy was of another man, but he bein now 
out of the way, some one else must be accused, and 
Mr. Jackson^ bein a good harted clever feller, on him 
fell the lot tu be next suspeckted. Arter tryin tu con- 
vince him of his innocence, the Captin got terrible 
wrathy, and abusive: Mr. Jackson tell'd him he was a 
gentleman and wou'd fite him as one. Robbarts then 
abused his wife, and Mr. Jackson, left his house. Rob- 
barts then sued Jackson and bound him tu keep the peace 
before Squire Wegbly. Soon arter this Mrs. Robbarts 
parted from her husband, and started for Natches, havin 
Mr. Jackson, who was ever kind to the ladies, and Kur- 
nel Stark tu proteckt her from the Ingins. About this 
time a report was started that Captin Robbarts had ob- 
tained a divorse. Mr. Jackson return'd from Natches tu 
[Nashvil and pursu'd hislawin a spell. Hearin that the 
lady had bin devorst, he went back and marrid her, but 
in about seven years arter he heard that she had n't 
bin,adevorse was then obtained, and he was marrid over 
agin, so that the konjurer's predixshions com'd all tru. 

In the year 1796, Mr. Jackson, now made agineral, 
becom'd very popular, and was elected a member of the 
Convenshion for makin a constitushion for the state. — 
He was a rale dimocrat, and was very expirt at stump 
orashions. His bein able tu make 'era is the sartin 
sine of ginewine dimocrasy, and tru patriotism. 

In the convenshion for formin a constitushion for the 

state of Tenesee the debates was plaguy warra^bout the 

question whither all the citizens wouM have the rite tu 
B 



14 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

vote. The gineral was in favour of makin men indus- 
strous, and striking out of the list of voters all who 
hatln't property. Nor wou'd he have the i>inneters or 
asembly elected oney from men who owned from 500 tu 
250 acres of land. I think as how the gineral was rite 
there, for folks have no business makin law till they 
can have big farms and plenty of cash. It don't signify 
whither the represintative has capacity tu make laws, 
if he has a plenty of the rino, that's enuff — he shou'd be 
elected. The talkers shou'd all stay at home. The gin- 
eral voted a tax upon votin, that no other shou'd have 
the rite who had'nt property. This was tu keep the 
rabble from interferin in politix. 

The gineral bein on the Committee from Davison 
County, reported to theConvenshion, as a clause in the 
constitushion; that freemen of 21 years of age and 
upwards, havin a freehold estate in the county where he 
may ofter tu vote, shall have a rite tu vote at the ejection. 

That no person shall be eligible tu a seat in the 
Gineral Asembley unless he has liv'd three years in 
the state, or in the county, and posses in his rite, in the 
county he represints, not less than 200 acres of land, 
and be 21 years old. 

The same year he was sent tu Ccngres from his adop- 
ted state. But towards the eend of Congres three 
months before it broke up, he axed and got leave tu 
return home. Before next session he resined his place, 
modestly pretendin that he was incompetent tu tug 
with the politishions of congres. This raised his repu- 
tashion very much, and giv'd proof, if any was wantin, 
that he had nation good sense, and knew how tu employ 
it. As a reward for this noble act his friends in 1814, 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



15 



seventeen year arter, apply 'd and obtained a Commishion 
for him in the United States Service as amajorGineral. 

It was about this time that the gineral bou't his farm 
called the Hermitage. Here he becom'd the Farmer 
of Tenesee; but while he farm'd his ground he wasn't 
alwase free from trubble, I tell ye. He was in hunt 
of glory, and glory isn't gotten without hard knocks 
and bluddy fitin, as in tlie wars of Irelan he was tell'd 
by his mother. 

The many aftares of honer the gineral getted intu 
about this time I guess wasn't begun at the plow tale. 
The gineral havin a large farm, and knowin that he 
was to be grate, thou't that money was one of the props 
on't. Tu get money was not tu be negleckted, and he 
went tu work like a tru farmer, and rased a nation 
site of game cox for the pitj and hosse? for the run, and 
niggers for the market. When the gineral tell'd me 
about this part, he amost past it over; but I axed him 
so many times, he says, well major, its no use tu hide 
the truth, speshally as it was the chief cause ot raisin 
me in the world, besides givin me a grate name. If I 
wou'd leave this part out my old friend wou'dn't never 
forgive me. This part of my life will be remimbert with 
most plessure, becase in every fite, and frackas, and 
duel, and in cok fitin, I was victorious. Had it been 
rong I guess they wou'd'nt have stickt tu me thro' thick 
and thin as they have done. But they have approv'd my 
hull life, and it is but ritetu do 'em honer. Now, Ma- 
jor, let 'em have it all, says he,so givin his table a whack 
with his hickory to stir up his wits, he tell'd me the 
hull facts, and I'm sartin its all tru as preachin. If 
any of it is rong printed, I will jist make the gineral 
correckt it arterwards, 



CHAPTER III. 

The gineral made a judge. Turns sherif and has a 
row. Gits White tride quick afore a witnes comes 
and saves his life. His hoss rasen. Duel with 
Charles Dickinson. Shoots him ded. Gits ackwain- 
ted with Rurnel Bur. The gineral suspeckted in his 
plot. Turns informer and is made a patriot. 

The gineral's talents and his gittin forward in life made 
many jellus and envious of his fame and popularity. 
No man cou'd keep so good a hoss, or was sich a master 
hand tu gaff his cox. Every hoss race was supported 
by him. At a cokfite he was a rale screamer, who cou'd 
grin the bark oft' a tree. It was here that his inemies 
liked to show their spite, and it warn't showin teeth 
when they warn't afeard tu bite I tell ye. In every 
skrimmage the gineral beat his opposers, and then they 
wou'd find the biggest and stoutest whalers of fellers in 
all the settlement and set on him, so that his sides and 
hed was often batter'd<and breach'd like the walls of a 
town beseeged. About this time they made the gine- 
ral a judge; and one day a bench warrint was sent ar- 
ter a feller who had broken info the peace. The feller 
bein one of the Kentucky ring-taled rorers, armed 
himself, and bid the sherif defiance. The sherif, 
afeard for his life, returned tu coort,and tell'd the judge 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



17 



that he wou'dn'tbe taken. Wont he, says the gineral, 
then I'll see if I can't bring him along. With that he 
jump't rite down from the bench, and taking the 
sherifs staff' went arter the feller. He found him 
in his house barackaded and arm'd, threatenin deth and 
furj on all who ventured near him. The gineral who 




knew he wasn't goin to be kill'd yet, put his sholde^' to 
the door and burst it in, the man piesenteil his muskit 
and swore he wou'd shoot,but the gineral nockt the mus- 
kit out of his hand in a winkj the man jump't in on 
him and then they at it, ruff and tunable, kick, scratch, 
gouge, bite and bruse, like a barn full of tio-er cat*.- — 

B 2 



18 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LlFIi 

At last the gineral got uppermost; and cotched the fel- 
ler by the throte dragg'd him out, and madehimatonct 
surrender. Holdin him still by the Ihrote with one 
hand and his big staft* with tother he brou't the feller 
into coort, and deliver'd him to the s erif. When 
they appeared, the feller and the gineral was all cover'd 
with mud, and blood, and scratches, but the gineral, 
did'nt mind it a bit, he mounted the bench, and the 
trial went on as if nothin had happen'd. 

That the gineral never deserted his friends can't be de- 
nied. He had thenack of makin friends, norwou'd he 
miss a chance tu do it. On the trial of Mr. White for 
murder, he urged on the trial, and had it complete over 
afore tu important witneses was brou't. This was a con- 
sarnt good spoke in his wheel; but tho it was tell'd him 
atfurst that the witneses was comin, he torgot,and so the 
man's life was sav'd. By this be gained grate praise 
and many friends. 

The rases often brou't the gineral into a nation site 
of trubble. In them the boss owners on all sides tried 
to cheat all they cou'd, and those who cheated most us'd 
threats and violence on those who'd get worsted, tu 
keep 'em quiet. Many's the skrimmage took place on 
the course, but the dispute was mostly settled in agen- 
tilmanly way, with pistols. On one occashion the gin- 
eral and Charles Dickenson made a race, as all grate 
men do, and ran fore mile heats for five thousand dol- 
lars. Dickenson lost,and his rider complain'd that lie got 
foul play, and that gineral Jackson's rider had jostled 
him. The gineral heard this charge, and said he wou'd 
make any man personally responsible who dare accuse 
his rider of foul play. Dickenson said he believed his 



^^ MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

boy said truth, which he found he always did. They 
got tu sq^iabblin, and a challinge was giv'd by the gine- 
ral, and accepted. Mr. Overton was the gineraPs sec- 
ond, and Dr. Catlett Mr. Dickenson's. The seconds 
agreed that they shou'd fite ten paces, and that a snap 
warn't a fire. The seconds tost up for the word, Over- 
ton won it. When he giv'd the word /re, both pulled 
trickers at onct. Dickenson's ball grased the brest of 
of the gineral, slitely touchin.the hide. The gineral's 
stopt at half cok. He noddid to the seconds, then re- 
cokt and took slow and deliberate aim, and shot 
Mr. Dickinson thro the hard Mr. Dickenson stood 
stock still till shot. The gineral thou't it rite by the 
laws of dueilin, and of self preservashion, to kill the 
man when he cou'd who had his chance at him, and pre- 
vent him havin another. When I com'd this far th'^ gin- 
eral tell'd me to put in it, that the story about his makin 
Dickinson kneel down and say his prayers, for he wou'd 
be in hell in a few minits, still holdin his pistol cokt til 
he axt pardon of lieven and of man, warnt a w^ord of it 
tru. He said when I'd go rong he'd tel me. — The feel- 
ins of the public was consarutly excited at this, but the 
good genus of thehero triumph'd, for he threaten'd any 
who wou'd publish it, so that no one durst speak of 
nor lite about it till the people foi-got it. 

The gineral well knew that he was predesfin'd tube a 
grate man, but as the fates had withheld from him how he 
was tu be made, he thou't it rite tu try every chance, 
and the rite one wou'd be hit on some time or othei-. 
This made his ears cokt to heai-, and his eyes open tu 
see when any thing ofter'd, that wou\l open his way. 
While on the lookout, Kurnel Aaron Bur, com'd down 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. ' ^^ 

the Ohio on a tower of observashion. This cunnin 
politishion and grate statesman conseiv'd some projeckt 
which he only let out tu his tryM friends. These were 
sich as were bound not tu tel it. On his way down Ohio 
Bur stopped at Blennerhassit's to pay a visit. Mr.Blen- 
nerhassit was an Inglishman, who owned the Hand, and 
had improv'd it so much as tu be a gem in the Ohio. He 
axt leave tu see the place, and sent in his card as ^'Kul. 
Bur." Mr. Blennerhassit was very rich, and invited 
the Kurnel tu spend some time with him. He did so, 
and while with him let him by degrees into his grate 
secrit. He then went to Nashvil and arrived at "gineral 
Jackson's house at the Hermitage, on Sundy the 14th 
of December. 1806. The Kur!iel had travePd over the 
west states the year afore, and had formed a party and 
laid plans as was suppos'd to divide the states. This 
time he went out to put his plans in moshion. — 
When he com'd toLexinton, Kentuck, he was proseku- 
ted, but the grand jurey found no bill, and he was dis- 
charg'd. Kurnel Bur was expeckted at the gineral's in 
December, but in November, in expectashion of this, 
the gineral rote to Gov. Clairborne of Louisiana, tellin 
him that he was in danger; that plans were on foot 
dangerous tu the union,and that he mite expect inemies 
from a quarter not suspeckted. This, says the gineral, 
when he tell'd me, shews that I was soundin the alarm. 
But, says I, gineral,what kind of alarm? Did you know 
what was goin to happin before Kurnel Bur com'd? And 
if you new the Kurnel's schemes, a month and tu days 
atore, why did you receive and entertain him as a friend? 
The gineral said nothin. Gineral says I, the people 
suspeckted that you entered the temple of Conspirasy, 



^^ MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

but was makin a privet door to creep safely out, if it 
shou'dfall. Thegineral give his face a twist, and 
the table a whack with his hickory. His dander was 
up in a minit, and he said, now says he, major, no bo- 
dy durst n't tell me so but yourself. Well, well, gin- 
eral, says I, all I want is a tru imparshal account. I 
don't care about my fitin, and sprees, and all that, says 
he, but stick tu the mark as 1 tell'd it to you. I will 
that, gineral,says I, and if I don't make your glory shine 
, with bigger lite,there is no rocks on the stoney mountins. 
\\ ell then, tu go ahed, the Nashvil papers of the 20th, 
same month, tell',! the publick that - Kurnel Bur ar- 
ny'd on Sunday evenin last at Gineral Jackson's, nine 
miles from this town, and has been in this place several 
times this week. He appears to be preparin for some 
movements, we know not where." Grate men like tu 
be in company with grate men, and who, if not with 
the gineral, wou'd Kurnel Bur stop. Bur remain'd 
with the gineral fixin his;plans,knowin thegineral had a 
gen-ous for all grate p.ffares of this natur, until the 22nd. 
when he departed in the boats down the Cumberland 
river. 

Not long arter this the gineral had a quarrel with 
gineral Adare. This gentilman, in his spite, charged 
the gineral with raisin himself by turnin states evi- 
dense aginst Bur. But I'll jist tell how 'twas. The 
gineral acted the patriot, and sav'd his country/ by turn- 
in states evidence in the nick of time. The Nashion 
was sav'd and Bur was takin, becase, as parson 
Habakuk Downing onct tell'd me, "the iniquity of 
the Amelekites warn't yet full. " At this time a gen- 
erel suspishion begin'd to spred that Kurnel Bur was 



OF GENERAL jACKSONi 



2S 



hatchin up a conspirasy? and his makin the glneral's 
house his home put hiin, d'ye see, in a ticklish site- 
uashion. If proofs com'd aginst the kurnel, suspishi- 
ons must fall upon the gincral; and the fact that the 
kurnel got the gineral tu bild boats for liim and draw 
upon Blennerhassit, besides his stayin at his housej 
and the letter of the gineral's tu Clairborne before Bur 
com'd to his house, sayin that conspirasies were in mo- 
tion, all show that the gineral had reason tu fear, 
when the plot was discovered, that he must fall in for 
his share of the danger. 

The part took by the gineral to git out of the skrape 
showed, plain as a pikestaf, that he had no love for the 
kurnel, and wasn't consernM with him. But the letter 
of Captin Read, from Pittsburg to the Secretary of 
war was enuff to give him alarm. Capt. Read says, 
"The asociates of Bur are from different parts of the 
Union, many of them wealthy and interprisin men.— 
Ginerals^ayton and Jackson of Tenesee, are sade tu 
be chief officers; and Daniel Clark of New Orleans, 
a Mr. Blennerhassit of Ohio, and a Mr. Alston his 
son in law, all men of wealth are his bankers. Ken- 
tuck and Tenesee are intirely devoted tu Kurnul Bur, 
and from these states he will acquirej considerable bo- 
dies of troops, to be heded by Gineral Jackson, of the 
latter state, who no doubt has martched with a body of 
militia under the pretense of joinin gineral Wilkinson 
on the Sabine aginst the Spanyards. At Natches they 
were tu join Kurnel Bur, and at New Orleans Kurnel 
Swartwout. 

It was a shame and sin to implecate the 'gineral in 
that wicked bisnes. Becase he bilt boats and did bisnes 



24 MAJOR JACK DOWNIXG's LIFE 

for Bur, and entertain'd him at his house, and was 
friendly, a month or tu arter he knew he warn't right and 
tru tu his country, yet the gineral oney wanted tu bring 
him on tell he wou'd find out what he was arter, and 
then jist blow him ski high. That Swartwout was in 
the secrit, and engaged with Bur, there is leetle doubt. 
It's a pitty the gineral has bin so friendly and giv'd so 
many offices to all Bur's friends, becase it makes 
folks suspeckt all warnt rite, — that they understood 
one another, and were always friendly. But the gin- 
eral, as soon as he learnt that the government knew all 
about it, rote a consarnt cute letter to Jefferson, lettin 
the cat out of the bag. 

How far the gineral was consarnt in this conspirasy 
he refus'd tu tell me. But puttin all things together, 
readin all the evidence — that he[engaged several of his 
vvdfe's relations and some of his friends tu accompany 
Bur tu New Orleans, and seein that he had boats bilt, 
some accounts say 40 or 50 in number, in which Bur 
floated down tu New Orleans, made under his inspec- 
shion and[finish'd arter he had ritten tu governor Clair- 
borne — there is something in it that farely startles me; I 
can't git it out of my hed; yet when I think of the blaze 
of glory around him, I say hush. Jack Downing — no 
treason aginstthe gratest and best in the nashion; the 
gineral oney intended tu see what he wou'd do, and then 
by a leetle contrapshion, have him secur'd by informin 
on him like a tru patriot. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The gineraPs liberality. Cok Jitin. Hoss rasen. Fidn 
and duillin. Qiiarls. Quarls. File with Swan 
and others. ^ string of duels and qicarls. Origin 
of the Benton quart. 

The gineral bein very liberal and ginerous in spcn- 
din his money, found that if he cou'dn't find means tu 
replenish his pus, he wou'd soon have tu manceuver the 
apostles, or rob Peter tu pay Paul. His stirrin habits 
vi^oud'n't let him be quiet, and his choice breed of chic- 
kens never failed tu draw him stores from the cock pit. 
If you wou'd see the gineral in a ring it wou'd do your 
hart good. He wasn't never as much himself at the 
hangin of Ambrister, or the Battle of New Orleans as 
when he won a fite at the pit. His chickens never 
failed him. But sometimes when cheatin w&s rife, and 
he'd try tu lay Cane upon Abel, some of his cater-cou- 
sins of the ring wou'd lay his blood under contribushion 
and tapt him a leetle to cool his fever. He didn't 
alwase git off' with hull bones, as Captin Sharp, in 
attemptin to bully the pigeon, often at the expense of 
his hide, made him tug for the winnins. About this 
time one Swan challing'd him. They quarl'd on a rase 
course. The gineral had a consarn'd sniartic of a 
jockey. Tu look at him you'd think he was a mere 



£6 MAJOR JACK DO-WNINg's LIFE 

twiddlepoop, but arter all, tho' he look'd like ileth's hed 
on a mopstick and walked on trapsticks, he had the 
nack of conlrapshion tu a miracle. Let him mount 
what boss he wou'd, he was sure tu win, and the 
gineral thou't him sich a clever feller that whatever he 
said, the gineral stuck by. This bro't the gineral intu 
a plaguy site of squabbles, but his fearless, and darein 
port made amost evety one afear'd of him. In this in- 
stance the gineral refus'd tu fite; he wasn't afear'd of man 
nor mortal, but somehow he didn't like tu fite, thinkin 
his jockey might have bin rong this time. This show'd 
the gineral was good at hart, and wou'dn't fite unless 
when he was in the rite cause. Swan and he met soon 
arter; they quarl'd over agin, when Swan threw him in- 
tu the fire. He got out agin pritty quick I tell ye, and 
soon show'd Swan he cou'dn't catch the moon in his 
teeth. Swan attempted tu make a back log of him the 
second time, but the gineral give him a kick in the 
bred basket that sent him out of the window. The tu 
then got agin on their stilts, and at it they went. 
Their blows warn't no abel-wackits 1 can tell ye. 
Every click tell'd; the gineral giv'd Swan sich a stoter 
on the nob that he reel'd back, while his knees rubb'd as 
if they were converted into a snuff mill. Swan re- 
cover'd, upset the gineral and he wou'd a bin made intu 
a back log in tu minits had not some of his friends 
come timeously tu his relief. 

• One fite alwase brings on a string on 'em. Thomas 
Dickinson, whose brother the gineral kill'd in a duel, 
challing'd and fou't Thomas Overton, v/ho was woon- 
ded. The gineral was second; and about the same 
tjme, jist tu keep his hand in trainin, he seconded his 



OF GENEUAL JACKSON. 27 

wifes neffu, A. Donaldson, who fou't J. Winston, tu boy's 
about 18 years old. They bravely pop'd their blue pills 
at one another at six feet distance. A duel fou't 
atween Mr. McNairy and gineral Cotty, in which 
CoiFy was woonded, was follow'd up with a war of ink 
and type atween McNairy and the gineral. This they 
finish'd with a challindge, but the quarl was hush'd, and 
the parties made friends. The gineral now became 
noted for bein able 

" To put a duel nately off his hand," 

and was first or second in all the fites that took place 
in the country- He was Gineral Caroll's second in his 
duel with Jess Bentin,* but Bentin charged him with 
foul play, and from this grew the fam'd spree at Nash- 
vil atween the gineral, Coffy, and the tu Bentins, some 
account of which will be givin in another place. 

The numerous scrapes and rackets it was his honer 
now tu take a «share in got him intu a grate practice, 
and qualifi'd him for the dangers which was comin 
and not far ahed. As soon's he had done with McNairy, 
a long string on 'em took his place tu try their luck. 
David McGavick, William Polk, Robbert Weakly, 
John Strothers and Robbert Hays all tri'd their haftd 
and com'd off with dift'erent kinds of luck, as their 
eyes, noses, ears and other scarificashions will show\ 
Hew Mongomery, a whaller of a feller follow'd the 
batch of cornubblers. The gineral at first thou't him a 
mere bell-swagger, and manfully closed in on 'em; but 
afore long he found he cotch'd a tartar who wou'dn't 
nother come along nor let him go, for hadn't some friend 
com'd tu his relief the konjurers Horreskope wou'd 've 
all gone for notliin. 



28 



MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 



Passin over his challengin Kurnel Every, governor 
Sevier, and a dozen or tu more of the high folks, it is 
time jist to touch a leetle on some of his land speckula- 
shions. His inemies ?ay he hasn't much wit. I'm 
goin tu prove he has more than any on 'em, and more 
honesty tu; and that he's as cute in dealin as in fitin, 
and able tu beat them all holler in managin as well as 
in club law. 




CHAPTER V. 

The ginerat spends tufast and tries to replenish his 
pus. He begins land speckulatin, in which he shows 
grate skill, foresite and wisdom. 

The gineral was alwase consarnt liberal with his 
money. He frolickt rother wildly, and his cash 
went like a whistle. The rases, cok-pit, lawin, and 
all his ways to make money wou'dn't do. In spite of 
his teeth his affairs got so flabagasted that the Daffy 
Club cou'dn't save it. He was amost us'd up in fitin at 
the cok-pit, in bar rooms, and other gatherins, where 
he alwase undertook to chastise his inemies, and have 
their ears bort. Buthe saw as cleer as preacliin, that 
if some means warnthit upon tu keepliim up, his coks, 
bosses, niggurs and all, must go slick tu the Pontius 
Pilates who shave notes and receive niggurs in pawn. 
Tu keep his farm and stock, some plan, it was plane as a 
pikestaf, must be adopted. While he was meditatin 
some course, he struck upon one by a lucky thou't that 
mended his fortune, and farely set him afloat. 

The gineral bein a lawyer, was employed to collect 

and settle an estate as aturney, on morgides upon lands. 

The tracks contain'd 85,000 acres, and had several 

owners. The speckulators imployin him ax'd his 

C 2 



30 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

opinion as tu the title. He give his opinion that the 
titles was good, and that they mite proceed, and he 
took an interest in the speckulashion himself. This in- 
courag'd the purchasers, and thej laid out considera- 
ble of money in the purchase. The gineral, havin re- 
celv'd a large fee counseled and tell'd the owner the 
title was good, but seein a main good chance for a spec, 
he arter a while telPd them the title wasn't good for 
iiothin, and that the coort had no legal power to decide 
in the case. He ther, bein interested, took a fee from 
himself, and give law aginst his own opinion afore 
given _; thus by hocus pocus shufflin the property intu 
his own hands. It was now necessary that a legal 
claimant shou'd put in for the land. 

Tiiese lands first was own'd by David Allison. 
But wantin money, he got Norton Pryor to lend him 
21,800, giving his note and morgidge on the lands as 
security for its payment. Norton Pryor, when he 
wanted the money agin, giv'u a power of aturney tu 
Joseph Anderson, tu file a bill in chancery tu forclose 
and sell tu recover his money. Anderson in this 
bisnes became Pryor's partner, and the lands were 
advertis'd for sale. Anderson then took the gineral in- 
tu partnership, givin him part, as a fee for closin the 
morgulge and sellin the lands. The lands were par- 
sell'd o'Jit and sold. Part was sold tu Pryor, part tu 
himselfj (the gineral,) and part tu Anderson, as was 
a-reed in writin atwecn the parties. The deeds was 
made out, the gineral tell'd me, in a rite proper legal 
way, and all was fix'd. In all this the gineral acted as 
alurmy for Pryor and Anderson. The lands deeded 
tu him was as his fee. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. SI 

About the year 1806, Mr. Outlaw, Anderson's father- 
in-law, James Pattin and Andy Erwin became part 
proprietors in these lands, the one by purchase irom 
Anderson, the others by purchase from Prior. Kurnel 
Erwin before purchasin consulted the gineral as aturney 
about the title, and was told it was good. 

These purchasers remain'd on the lands five or six 
years. The lands bein clear'd and improv'd and fore 
times as much in worth, the gineral who had a hawk's 
eye, mind I tell ye, tu these lands, all at onct found 
out that the title wasn't worth a straw, and that they 
must have a better title. The gineral now, by a mas- 
ter stroke of policy, which no one who isn't qualified 
tu be president cou'd do, found out that Mr. Allison, the 
orignal proprietor, ow'd him $500^ but becase said 
Allison was ded and warn't able tu pay it, his heirs 
had <'bargin'd, sell'd,asign'd, and made over tu Andrew 
Jackson all his rite, title, interest and claim in law 
and equity," in the aforesaid tracks of lands. This 
conveyance was made by the heirs of D. Allison; but 
in this conveyance, care was taken that no menshion 
shou'd be made of the particklar lots, their boundaries 
and quantity. Now for the trick that jockied the 
knowin ones, the forlorn hope that upset, by the aid of 
Merkry, all their apple carts, and made the hull pop 
intu his own pockit slick as a whistle. 

The gineral was soon arter this call'd tu command 
a detachment of the Tenesee militia. Goinfrom home 
tu the wars, he cou'dn't attend tu the bisnes himself, 
but jist afore he started tu seek the inemy, he form'd 
a partnership with a James Jackson, a wealthy mer- 
chant of Nashvill and a Jenkin Whitesides, a grate 



32 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

land lawyer, givin each, by agreement an equal share — 
the share of Whitesides tu be as a fee for breakin the 
title the gineral Imd said was good, when he incourag'd 
many families tu buy and settle it. At this time more 
than one hundred purchasers, on the assurance of the 
gineral that the title was good, had bou't and settled 
on them. But they didn't understand law, and were 
poor. The gineral, on martchin off, had nothin at all 
tu do in the breakin of the title. He had bin council 
on tother side and had recciv'd large fees in lands for 
it. But arter he went off tu defend the country, the 
new land firm commenc'd suit. But findin they 
begun rong, they giv'd it up, and went back and made a 
fresh start. Bills of equity in the name ol A. Jackson 
was filled aginst every known settler on the land, but 
one. In one of these bills, A. Jackson is represented 
as settin forth a pretended clame tu certin tracks makin 
85,000 acres; but Andy Erwin answers in defence, 
that the said A. Jackson had encourag'd him tu buy 
the lands, as aturney for the owner, that he represent- 
ed the titles tu be as good as oney in the State, and 
that he had, in consequence, bou't the lands, relyin 
upon the judgment of A. Jackson. One of the pur- 
chasers, said that A. Jackson, as aturney sellin these 
lands had sworn that the titles was good. A number 
of affadivits made to show that the gineral had sold the 
lands on the confident assurance that the titles was 
good, now brou't the firm into difficulties, and to help 
them out, Whitesides the grate lawyer had tu withdraw 
from the firm, tu enable him tu be a witness in their 
favour. He sold out for SI, 000. At this time P. H. 
Darby, was taken by tiic gineral intu partnership. The 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 33 

gineral impower'd him tu act, and went oft' for Florida. 
Darby, a lawyer, soon became Editor of the Constitu- 
shional Advocate. He imploy'd the press tu discuss 
these land speckulashions, but alwase on one side, so 
as tu prepare the publick mind tu give a jury decishion 
when the case was tried. Soon arter this a compro- 
mise was accepted by the gineral, in which the purchas- 
ers who bou't from him agreed tu give liim 10,000 
dollars and pay costs, in case A.Jackson and J.Jackson 
agree tu enter a decree in their favour at the next 
coort and give a quit deed. Mr. Darby, as a part 
claimant objected till he received 5,000 dollars, tu 
join in the quit deed, and the contest ended. 

The inemies of the gineral denied that D. Allison 
ever ow'd him any money, before his deth. I was 
puzzled tu know which side was truest in their stories, 
so I ax'd the gineral, but he shrugged up his sholders, 
give his face a riggle, and said he had let the people 
have it their own way — he was for the people — and then 
it'd be jist rite. The gineral got $10,000, for lands 
claimed by him which was worth half a million, and 
if this wasn't makin a sacrifice for the good of the 
people, I swou I don't know what is. In all this 
bisnes the gineral was cute as a rasor. It needed 
somethin more than a cods-hed tu manage, with sich 
leger-de-main and hocus pocus, an affair requirin so 
much dexterity, every scrimptius bit on't havin tu be 
worked with master skill, with a set of rambunctious 
fellers who, findin themselves comin out second best 
warn't never out of the tantrums tu the eend on't. 
This was true patriotism and benevolence. It show'd 
his genus in law, his honesty as a trusty counsellor, 



34 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

and his disinterested good feelin in lettin folks live on 
the lands he had sold them, arter he had found out 
that their title vvarn't good. I gues he warn't asham'd 
nother, tu let be seen that when he found out he was 
rong, he chang'd. Other lawyers wou'd have conceal'd 
their blunders. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The gineral rises in wealth. Become a speckulator in 
niggurs. His heroic defiance of the laws, and his 
travellin arm^d tu resist any demand for his pass. 

Tu a man predestin'd to be grate in the world, wealth 
was as necessary as nails tu shoe ahoss. Tu help out 
his land specks, he embrac'dafineopeninin the trade of 
niggurs. The gineral hated the Ingins, becase they wou'd 
n't jist obey, and when he had a chance he never fail'd tu 
shoot 'em down. He couldn't see the use of an Ingin; 
they was good for nothin except to kick up a row and 
give work in fitiii. But the niggurs was very useful. 
They'd work, and when they'd breed over much he 
feund a good market for 'em. 

In the year 1810, H, Green, and Captin Coleman 
bou't of Mr. Smith a lot of cottin. Mr. Smith givin 
credit wcu'd take no security but the gineral. He 
wou'dn't give security without bein a partner, and he 
was taken in. The cottin was carried to New Or- 
leans, and sent tu Philadelphia by sea, and Green re- 
turn'd toNashvil. The company then commenc'd the 
purchase of niggurs. Bwt H. Green, on sellin part of 
the lot at Natches, was made tu give up the bargain tu 
the gineral who had found they'd be a profitable spec, and 
who had some notion of goiii intu the trade. Green, 
therefore, give up, and the lot was taken by the gineraU 
On this the gineral made a considerable profit. Soonar* 



S6 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

ter this he bou't another lot. In drivin 'em through the 
Choctaw nation, from Missippi tu Tenesee, it was neces- 
sary he shou'd have a pasport. The gineral had one rule 
for all measures, which was considerable of a savin tu 
him, and this was, to fojler his own bent, and lite his way, 
when his'n and other's ways coud'nt notch. Hearin that 
Dinsmore the Choctaw agent wou'dn t let him pass, 
he muster'd his niggurs and prepar'd lor battle He 
arm'd tu niggurs, rale rap roarious ring-tale scrougers of 
fellers who fear'd neither man nor divil,and put them in 
the front, one on 'em havin a good rifle. Now my 
lads, said the gineral, if they give you any jimber jaw 
be at 'em flugens, and make them scamper like mon- 
kees before a fire in the woods of Campeachy. By gol- 
ly, if you obsquotulate, you are ded before you can say 
Jack Robinson— so look sharp. Hearin when he com'd 
tu the agency, that Dinsmore was absent, he tell'd his 
man he'd be glad tu've seen him, but cou'dn't wait, 
meanin that if he had bin there he'd 've shown him what 
it was tu interfere with his trade by askin a pasport, as 
he cared for neither law nor any thing when his interest 
was tu be look'd arter. ' f 

When the gineral tell'd me this, I look'd hard at him, 
and ax'd whether he knew it was necessary tu have a 
pasport, tu fulfil the laws of the country. Oh, as tu that, 
says the gineral, tu other men, these things are all rite; 
but I'm not like other men. My desteny is different, 
and I must do things in a different way from others. — 
Every man can't be president, and the men who are 
comin forward tu be hed of the nashion may do things 
which, war another tu do them, wou'd^make the der- 
rick put him up jist upon the dedly never green. Oh, 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. o7 

yes gineral says I, I see how 'tis. You are rite, grate 
men must do grate things; and the bold and darin will 
alwaise be honor'd and worshiped by the people, and 
that'll carry a man thro' all, in spite of fate. 

Passin over his various trafick in niggurs and his 
lawin about some rottin ones bou't cheap to pass off — 
for all's fare in niggur dealin — but which was return'd 
on his hands agin, I must now come to some of his glo- 
rious feats of bravery, which drew on him publick atten- 
shion, and led the way tu his renown. But as what I'm 
goin to say, is of grate importance in this history, I'll 
jist close this chapter, and begin a new one with it. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Reflexions on the reason ivhy all the men the Ginerat 
ramsquaddled getted tube his friends. Why he never 
forgives. The Benton frakas. Sport for the people at 
Nashvil. No law for squabblers. 

It is considerable of a wonder with some folks that 
arter so much cornubbliu and lambastin given and re- 
ceiv'd in the everlastin skrimmages the Ginerai met 
with, he didn't make a nation site of inemies. But, 
instead, the more he dealt out his sockdologers the 
more they wou'd be his lick-spittles. The Ginerai 
had many friends, who were alwase ready to help 
him to lick his inemies, so that if he had ramsquaddled 
every one on 'em, they'd soon be makin peace with 
him. They found in the tug that he was a rale sneez- 
er, and not very pernikety about dressin them up like 
a culprit on a Coort day. As the Ginerai never 
forgiv'd any one who oppos'd him, they all thou't, that 
the war must continue tell one or other kick'd the buck- 
it. His crow never moulted, but had feathers alwase to 
pluck, and his inemies findin no chance of his cryin 
pecavy, or meetin in compromise, was fain to knuckle 
under, and seek his forgiveness in humiliashions. — 
Those who onct gave in tu the Ginerai, arter a long 
spell of catterclawin, and milvaderin, was sure, like 
the Jewish slave, tu have his ears bor'd, and be his serv- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 39 

ant for ever, and one on 'em never troubbled him ever 
arter, but as his best friends, wou'd argu, defend, pro- 
tect, fite for, do his bid din, and follow arter him jist 
like a tantonej pig or whipt spaniel. 

The Gineral, as 1 said afore, never forgiv'd an ine- 
mj. The longer he nurs'd his rath the hotter it'd burn, 
and was the more dreadful when it burst forth. Alwase 
keepin his eye on bein hed, he was watchful that no one 
getted the weather gage of him in political manoeuver- 
in, becase if any got ahed who were inemies they wou'd 
keep him down, and that wou'dn't be rite, where the 
struggle was for the top. Grate men who have lost 
their reputashion are like merchants who have lost their 
credit and are destin'd to ruin. It was necessary and 
rite that the Gineral, lookin forward tu be hed of the 
nashion, shou'dn't let every rabscallion trounce him 
when he pleas'd; and when he had a quarl he did well 
not only to seek aid tu fite it out, but do it in public, 
that his bravery might be seen, and his actions be 
judg'd by every body. 

About this time the tu Bentons arrived in Nashvil. 
The Gineral and tliey had a pick at one another, some 
notice of which I have giv'd afore this. The Gineral 
soon had vengeance, tho' the Bentons, in coming tu 
Nashvil, expected tu have a row, and prepar'd them- 
selves with arms. The quarl begun about a charge of 
the Bentons at a duel atween Jess Benton and Gineral 
Carol, that Gineral Jackson, who was Carol's second, did 
n't show fair play. The spite which had been smother- 
ed for a long time for the want of a chance, was now 
about tu break out in all its glory — for I gues the tho'ts 
and feelins of grate men must be good, and if so, it 
isn't rite tu keep 'em in. 



40 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

The tu Bentons, on gettin tu Nashvil, findin the 
gineral in town, went tu a different tavern tu shun him, 
but I guess, they found their rath also somethin of a troub- 
blesome tenent, and wonted tu git rid of it as well's 
the gineral did his'n. 

The gineral findin that the Bentons were come, assem- 
bled his friends, and martch'd stratetu Benton's stoppin 
place. On enterin the Hotel and seein Thos. H. Benton, 
he drew and level'd his pistol, and as he advanc'd he bid 

him prepare, for that by the grate E 1 he wou'd shoot 

him in a minit. Before he advanc'd near enuff tu be 
sure of his aim, but without givin Tom time tu draw liis 
pistol, Jess Benton tir'd at the Gineral. Every man be- 
gun, quick time, tu handle arms, and in a second four 
pistols were fir'd, one by the Gineral at Thos. H. Ben- 
ton, tu by Thos. H. Benton at the gineral, and one by 
Kurnel Coffy at Thos. H. Benton. One of the shots 
brou't the gineral down. The pistols bein discharg'd, 
daggers were drawn. Kurnel Coffy and Alexander 
Donaldson made at Thos. H. Benton, and give him 
five woonds. Captain Hammond and Stukely Hays 
engag'd Jess Benton. Jess bein weak from a woond re- 
ceiv'd in a duel a short time afore, was easily overcome. 
They got him down, and while Captin Hammond giv'd 
him wisty castors on the hed, Ha^-s attempted to dirk 
him as he lay on his back, giv'd hini several woonds,and 
wou'd have sent him to Peg Trantums, altho he parri'd 
with his hands mite and main, hadn't a gentleman 
lookin on pittied and reliev'd him. Hays was re- 
turnin the compliment, for Jess had snapp'd a loaded 
pistol at his breast afore he fell, tu blow him thro.' 

The Bentons got the worst on't, as is shown by their 



-^ 




D 2 



42 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

knockin under, and gettin their ears bor'd. Thej had 
determin'd that if the gineral was sick, they wou'd give 
him blue pills enuft'tu cure him, as they had tu in eve- 
ry pistol, and v.^as all ready, tho' the gineral amosttook 
'em by surprise like a lion when it springs with a 
grate roar upon his prey. Thos. H. Benton had his 
coat sleeve burnt by the wad of the gineral's pistols, 
and if the gineral hadn't bin so much flustrated that 
he give his pistol a slantendicular direction, I swow, 
the fat wou'd a bin in the fire with him, and the nashion 
wou'd have missed the gratest sinneter that ever will 
come tu be in it. 

Several gentlemen had engag'd tu lend a hand in 
this glorious fite, and among others Captin Carol; but 
afore the tug com'd he getted himself a furlow by certifi- 
cate from the gineral, and had mossy'd to save his hide, 
so that the gineral had thehoner of dressin the tu Bentons 
with the aid of four arm'd men, and himself, alvvase a 
host. The gineral looks back to this glorious victory 
with grate pleasure, as it was the means of securin the 
interest of the tu Bentons, ever arter, which he wou'dn't 
have done hadn't this bluddy fite givin 'em a chance 
tu let oft' their rath, jist as steam is let off" when the 
boat stops. 

The Nashvil people considered this as a matter tu 
leetle tu look intu. Judge Searsy was then in the 
house. They were all afear'd I guess, of the gineral, 
who now begun tu git him a grate name, and many 
friends, and wou'dn't be call'd tu account for any of his 
doins by any on 'em who didn't wish tu fite a duel, for 
the idea of encounterin the gineral, made 'em all 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 45 

afear'd, and they war fane tu be quiet when he had a 
hand in the quarrel. 

In this skrimmage there warn't any child's play I 
tell ye. Every man had his mettle tri'd, for blows 
and shot went back and forward like hail in March ; 
sometimes they was all jerrycummumble in a heap, 
sometimes they bumpt their jolly nobs, or cotcht one 
another by the kolquarron till they cou'dn't squeek, and 
onct the gineral got a whoUop that made him as limsy 
as a rag for a minit, but afore the fite was eend'd, his 
star was lord of the ascendant, and the Bentons com'd 
out second best I guess. The gineral got a ball in his 
arm that remained there till he com'd tu be president, 
and tu this woond as much as the victory at New Or- 
leans and his Horryskope, is he indebted for his eleva- 
shion. The people lov'd him afore, but since they seed 
that he was the rale grit, independent of law, and not 
very sniptious about goin at work when he found his 
inemies, and that he'd stick tu 'em like a bur till they'd 
cry credo, they begun at onct tu love and honer him as 
he deserv'd, and resolve tu make him the people's candi- 
date for president. ^He learn'd the Bentons that they 
mustn't act the cully trap with him if they didn't want 
their apple carts upset in a wink. 



CHAPTER. VIII, 

The gineraVs qualificashions. High spirit. Modesty, 
appinted tu command in the Creek war. Fort Mimms 
masacre. The gineral martche's. Gineral Cof- 
' fy. The Battle of Talladega. Muteny in the 
army. The gineral understands the militia law dif- 
ferent from all others. The militia plead the exam- 
ple of the gineral who wou'daH obey the laws. 
I've now brou't up the life of the oineral tu the time 
when he was properly qualifi-d to take an important 
lead in the affares of this nashion. His carackter now 
begins tu develop itself in a way the reader has'nt 
never guest at, and bime by will appear in a new 
lite. 

I'm now up tu the wars with the Ingins and In- 
glish; but afore I rite about 'em, it is best tu say 
a leetle of the gineral, and his qualificashions, tu pre- 
vent the reader thirikin he had a worse temper than 
other folks,^ and jist to show that if he warn't blest 
with the best temper in the world, natur, that cut him 
out for command, giv'd him jist the kind of a sperii 
necessary for commanders. 

The gineral has bin grately abused for an uppish tem- 
per, but he lias'nt a bad one; its oney a flashey one 
that gose off like powder, and cools rite away agin. — 
He is raley a good humor'd man, and can be cool as a 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 45 

cowcumber in battle, and wherever coolness is wanted. 
Public life brings all grate men intu troubble; but the 
gineral has'nt a wav of palaverin and disguisin him- 
self, when he sees things wrong. Out his feelins rush, 
like a gust of wind. He knows he was born tu com- 
mand, but he has'nt bin tell'd that he was born tu rea- 
son. He will therefore have his way, and as his friends 
have so often publish'd him as a man of firmness, he 
thinks he must jist be onej resolute of one mind, and 
stick tu his text What is onej a flash of temper in 
him arises from a consciousness that he has a rite tu be 
and must be obej'd, and the demur of any one tu do his 
biddin raises and fires the flame tliat threatens tu crush 
any attempt tu gainsay it. But he needn'tplay the coor- 
tier, nor use submissive languidge, as hed of his neigh- 
borhood, of the army, or of the nashion^ when he hasn't 
tu obey, he knew it wou'dn't be his time tu obey, and 
violence in him is nothin other than the bursts of patri- 
otism strivin for vent and showin 'emselves tu keep 
folks in their places. He warn't never under com- 
mand — when he was, he refus'd tu be commanded. He 
felt as 'twas rite tu go accordin tu his judgment, and 
this is so powerful strong, that his opinions are alwase 
rite, and he thou't when they were so the people ought. 
tu submit. This is all dimocrasy, and republicanism! 
and when he gets the people to understand that this is 
the rite way, and tu think it their duty tu submit, then 
every thing will go on slick as a whissle, and there'll 
be no more jarrin. 

At the time I'm ritin of the war had jist broken out 
with grate Britain. The gineral hadn't^' yet receiv'd any 
government favors 5 and he was tu proud to ax any. 



46 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 

His grate talents war'nt known tu 'em. But when he 
martched agin the Ingins, and whalled them so slick 
in so short a time, the tame of his deeds went tu Wash- 
inton, where he had been a leetle time afore in Congress, 
and had resined his seat from a belief that he warn't 
competent tu fill the office, so honest is he tu the coun- 
try, that he wou'dn't serve iier except where he know'd 
how tu do it rite. The government now giv'd him the 
command of 2500 of the Tenesee militia, who gathered 
in a flock about his standard, and swore tu live or die 
with him. The gineral not only distrusted his political 
competency, but also his legal acquirements. He 
warn't fitted, he thou't, for the civd department; but 
knowin that an active military life is the best school for 
all kinds of knowledge, and that military fame is a kind 
of inspirer of all genus, he thou't best, afore he com'd 
forward tu act in civil, to be sure he cou'dlick all his 
inemies in military life, and then no one wou'd hear his 
faults in the noise of the hoora! 'f he gineral, in this, 
show'd a kinder skill in philosofy. Grate men have 
an instinct for the way tu rise; they look tu high tu 
see little impediments, and so they walk strate over 
'em, keepin the main chance a4wase in site. 

The gineral was now placed in command of 2500 
Tenesee Militia men. He marched them tu Natches. 
There was no inemy in that quarter; and the secretary 
of war whenever goes tu fite, nor know'd notliin but by 
guess work about it, jist ordered him tu dismiss his 
men, and let 'em get home as quick as they cou'd. 
The gineral refused tu obey, and his men, for sich a 
heroic example, have since love him amost tu deth. 
They ^iv'd three harty cheers, and declared that he 



OF GENEftAL JACKSON. 47 

was a (limocrat arter their own heart, and so long as 
he'd go his own gate^ they'd stick tu him like wax. 

Some hard things are said of the gineral for disobeyin 
His inemies said that his commission was giv'd not 
either tu disobey or tu command those who giv'd it, but 
tu be subject tu the Constitution and laws, and that he 
was sworn tu support 'em. Supposin this was a story 
of the inemy, got up tu hurt the gineral, I jist dropt 
my pen, and went tu go tell the president tu ax him. 
On my way I met with Blare of the Globe. I 
tell'd him what I was goin arter, whereon he put the 
account in my hand, sayin that it was the very thing 
that got the president so much favour with the people, 
and that it wou'dn't do tu leave it out a bit, so Tve put 
it in. I'm peskily afear'd, however, that if I put this 
in, some other grate man who reads it will think he 
can disobey orders, take the responsibility upon him- 
self, raise a rebellion afore folks think he's hatchin 
treason, and bid defiance when call'd tu account, more 
especially as the government was kinder afear'd tu tell 
him he was wrong. 

The next year the Creek Ingins, push'd on by Tec- 
nmseh and the laglish broke out intu hostilities. Sev- 
eral families had been murdered, and arter an attempt 
tu pacify them, their " voice was still for war." Part 
of the nashion was for peace, and the warlike part com- 
menc'd on the peace part of their own tribe. They 
brandish'd their war clubs,assured by their profet that 
the " grate spirit" was on their side, but it was sure 
enuft* the grate spirit of hell. Major Beasley with a 
hundred and fifty men, besides all the women and chil - 
dren in the country, was collected within fort Mimms 



48 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

in the Missippi Territory. The Ingins collected an 
army and amunishion, surrounded it, attack'd ]t, car- 
ried it by assault, and put tu deth nearly three hundred 
persons includin women and children. They show'd 
no mercy, but jist tomahawk'd father, mother and 
child, as they com'cl, tell they were all used up but sev- 
enteen who escap'd. The people of Tenesee, hearin 
of this, were up in a flash, nothin but vengeance was 
thou't on. Fearin the Ingins wou'd destroy all the whites 
they urged forward their preparashions. The gine- 
ral, havin had his arm broken in the affray with the 
Bentons, was not in fitin order, but lovin the sport ot 
Ingin-killin he wasn't tu be put off*, so he took the com- 
mand, havin under him 35G0 militia and 500 cavalry 
under Kurnel Coffy. 

The gineral havin arrang'd his men, and brou't 'em 
up tu the stickin point, determin'd tu carry the war intu 
the inemies country. While makin arrangements tu 
obtain a good supply of rashions, informashion com'd 
intu camp that the warriors were in the neighborhood of 
Ten Islands, threatenin the friendly Ingins. The war- 
riors will not touch you, said the gineral tell they've had 
a brush with me, and that'll put some on'em out of a 
notion of fitin for some time. 

Some days arter, the gineral learn'd the Ingins were 
at TuUushatchee. He sent gineral Coffy tu attack 'em 
Coffy com'd up with them, killed one hundred and six- 
ty eight men and a few women and children. The In- 
gins fought with arrows, and the whites lost five kill'd 
and forty one woonded. 

The gineral, hearin that the Creeks were about at- 
tackin Fort Talladega, garrisoned by the friendly Ingins 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 49 

martched tu its relief. They com'd up with 'em, and 
arter ^ despeiate resistance kill'd six hundred Ingins, 
and lost fifteen of the militia. The Ingins were pur- 
sued tu the mountins, on the way tu which many fell, 
and sure enuff, as the gineral said, they got gloriously 
smabbled for that time. 

Jist at this time unfortunately the men took a noshion 
in their heds that as their leader had set 'em an exam- 
ple of disobedience by refusin tu do the commands of 
his superior, they wou'd do likewise. From tliis tell the 
eend of the campane the gineral was in continual hot 
water, the men arguin tliat their time was out, and the 
gineral taht they warn't entitled tu a disch.irge. Tho' 
their legal term of service had expir'd, he wou'dn'tlet 
'em off, thretnin tu shoot, as deserters, all wlio refus'd 
tu obey. He said the Ingins warnt all kill'd, and that 
the time of service was the eend ol the war. The 
men said that the whole militia were tu be employ'd 
in turne, and that their time, agreed upon, was out. — 
The governor of Tenesee thought wifh the men ; at 
which the gineral took fire, and quit fitin his men tu 
bell the cat with the governor. He tell'd the governor 
planely he hadn't any rite tu decide, and urged him 
tu bid defiance tu the law, and cwmptd the men tu fite 
till the Ingins were kill'd, regardless of the smiles, or 
censures of the men. The men ran off, and the Ingins 
had another winter tu hunt afore they were sent tu 
the happy valley tu keep company with their fathers. 



^ CHAPTER IX. 

1 he war continued. Mutenies. The battle of Emuck^ 
fail. The battle of Enoiichopco creek. New mu- 
tenies. The militia refusin tu obey the gineral, while 
desirin tu obey the law, causes grate discontent. 

Arter the battle of Talledego, the gineral return'd 
tu Fort Struthers, on account of the scarcity of sup- 
plies. While here a muteay took place among the 
men, heded by some of the officers. Havin nothin 
tu eat but acorns, they cou'dn't stand the attacks of 
their stomachs, whatever the Ingins might do. As 
soon as the militia prepar'd tu return home, the gine- 
ral paraded the volunteers, with positive orders tu pre- 
vent them. The militia findin they cou'dn't jist do as 
they intended without fitin, praised the gineral, and 
returned tu duty. The next day the volunteers mu- 
tenied in their turn. They had oppos'd the militia 
merely on pretence. Now the militia stept forth tu 
o-ive th ,m tit for tat. The militia, glad of a chance 
tu retaliate on the volunteers, tho' nothin more 
wilUn tu remain than they, received the gineral's or- 
ders, and begun tu curry favour, by sayin that their 
change of purpose was all owin tu the gineral's tackt 
and ingenuity. A long time was now taken up in 
squablin about the term of service, and their finish- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 51 

in the campane while on the fields at length, arter a 
controversy with the governor of Tenesee, in which 
the gineral was recommended tu give up the service, the 
gineral rebels aginst the governor as the militia were 
doin aginst him, still holdin out that the Ingins wern't 
yet all kill'd, and insistin that their six months shouM 
be doubbled, or they remain until the fitin was all 
over. 

In some of these mutenies, which were kept up all 
the time by some of the officers and men, who thou't 
they had a right tu judge for themselves arter the 
stipulated time tu seive had expired, the parties were 
nearly comin tu blows. In their squabbles, the men 
always insisted that it was might aginst right, and 
that they were forc'd aginst their consents, and in 
violation of their contracts, tu continue in the service. 
They were, howsomever, with some excepshions, com- 
pell'd tu remain. 

While these mutenies was goin on, as if tu put 
other thou'ts in their beds, they were martcli'd tu 
near where the inemy was encamp'd. The gineral's 
spies found them, 1500 in number, preparin for battle. 
At the dawn of day, the Ingins comM on with savage 
shouts and yells, as if tartarus had open'd its throte. 
The attack was ferocious and bravely resisted. The 
camp iires blazin when the Ingins com'd on, the 
gineral placed his men in the dark, and as soon's the 
Ingins got atween 'em and the lire they popp'd 'em 
nicely, while they remain'd conceal'd. The Ingins 
havin bin repell'd in the first onset, the gineral 
thou't tu destroy their town. When preparin for 
this, the yells were renew'd and the attack recom- 



52 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

menc'tl. The Ingins maintained the confiict with 
grate obstinacy and spirit. Havin got behind some 
thickets they peppered the Teneseeans terribly. Gin- 
eral CofFy, tu draw them from their ambusli, feint a 
retreat; they pursued, when the fite, nearly equal on 
each side, w'as continued an hour with nearly an equal 
loss. At length the left of the line, havin drove off 
the inemy, com'd tu gineral Coffy's aid, and won the 
Me, arter a contest of a hull day. Of the parly who 
had engaged gineral Coffy none escaped arter his last 
charge, so dreadful v.as the slaughter. The fitin 
ceas'd for a leetle the spirit of muteny, by makin the 
militia seek mutual protecshion from the Ir.gins. 
This fite was called the battle of Emucfaw, and was, 
as tu loss, the severest they yet had. 

The gineral not findin his quarters comfortable, 
and not bein prepar'd tu kill all the Ingins, becase 
the Ingins were threatenin tu kill them, ha^\'in near 
them a larger force than their own, got ready litters 
for the woonded and prepar'd tu march off. They 
arrived about night near Enotichopco creek, the inemy 
all day in pursuit. The pass of this creek was dan- 
gerous in face of a foe who cou'd be conceal'd and lite 
in safety. Another pass was found, tu which the 
army was led; and when part had crossed, and some 
were crossin the ford, the Ingins com'd upon the rear 
with a hoop, a yell and discharge of fire arms, that 
made them all jump, and most of the men tu run for 
bare life. At this time the artillerists brou't a gun 
tu a risin, and prepar'd tu operate, but the Ingins 
furiously attack'd 'em. The artillerists arm'd with 
muskits defended their gun and many fell. The 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 53 

tackle of the gun got so tangled the men cou'dn't charge 
it, but at last the J used the barrel of a gun for a ram- 
mer, and the ramrod prepar'd it for the match, and 
now thej begun tu row 'em up salt river, I tell je. 
Several of the officers were kill'd defendin their gun, 
but the gineral, who had been amost over when the 
battle begun, havin brou't up his men, the Ingins fled 
leavin their blankets on the field, and were pursu'd 
tu miles. Gineral Coify had bin woonded at Emucfaw, 
the day afore, and when the gineral cou'dn't rally the 
men who loved him so much, Coffy, mounted a boss 
from his litter, and brou't the men forward in gallant 
style. Twenty tu thirty of the gineral's men were 
smabbled in the tu battles, and near tu hundred of the 
Indns. The mineral was now enabled tu continue 
his martch without interrupshion till he reach'd fort 
Struther, where he encamp'd, discharg'd the militia, 
and thus put an end tu their mutenies and bickerin. 

I've now brou't my narative tu the end of the cam- 
pane. The men never fail'd tu muteny when they 
wern't fitin, and it now remains tu tell some of the 
effects of these mutenies, and the ingenious plan adop- 
ted by the gineral tu put an end tu 'em. 

Tu have a rite understandin of what I'm goin tu 
tell, I must say, that by a law of Congress, no 
officer or private can be compell'd tu serve longer 
nor three months arter he has arriv'd at the place of 
rondevous, unless the president of the United States 
may require, and then the term mustn't be more than 
six months in all. The mer, knowin their rites, con- 
sider'd themselves free by law when the time expir- 
ed, and so took liberty tu martch home. They didn't 

E 2 



54 

think this desertin. But the gineral did, for tho 
he wasn't yet President, he knew he wou'dbe.and that 
was enuft'. So he took the president's power in an- 
tisepashion. and woirdn'tlet tiiem go a peg. The men 
and he were therefore constantly in the snarls at one 
another, and he was on the watch for a good case tu 
make an example and punish 'em for not doin his 
biddin, until he wou'd say enuff. He knew if he said 
so he cou'd make it muteny or desertion as he'd a 
mind, and the judges and executioners were all on his 
side, but he didn't jist yet think best tu do so. 



CHAPTER X. 

More mutemes. The case of John Woods, his trial and 
sentence. Woods shot. Reflexions. 

The campane bein now eended by the discharge of 
the militia, wiiile they were waitiii the arrival of the 
new army tu take their places, an event happen'd 
which, as it created grate excitement, shou'd be here re- 
lated. 

I've bin tellin my readers that there was considera- 
ble of a dissatisfaxion among the men about gittin 
home. This had been so frequent that the gineral 
was pritty sore becase his orders wasn't niore respected 
than they were. The gineral's dander was up; and he 
determin'd tu make an example tu let out his rath up- 
on, which now got pritty considerable troubblesome tu 
him. 

The first case happened with a boy about nineteen 
years old, named John Woods. As the gineral won't 
say a word about these are trials and execushions, and 
as the men who witness'd against, or that sentenc'd him 
might be partial, one part paid forgivin false testimony, 
and the other depindingon the gineral for a good word 
and preferment, and as truth is the standard, I don't 
wish it said that Jack Downing ever put in a word that 



56 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

is n't like as gospel. I shall quote 'em that arn*t 
suspected of bein interested in the matter, on one side 
or tother, as the gineral loves truth, and wishes tu let 
posterity know him ritely. 

John Woods had bin charged with desertin twice. 
Onct he had went for home, by the consent of gineral 
Robberts, with the rest of the party. They were 
overtaken and compelled tu return. Gineral Robberts 
was coort marshal 'd and cashier'd the army for this act. 
But John Woods was among the number so brou't back. 
He was coort marshal'd and mercifully acquitted be- 
case he wasn't tu blame. Soon arter, while most of 
the men were growlin and complanin, this Woods, who 
w^as on guard, was permitted by his officer tu go and 
git his brekfast. He had not gone far when a Major 
Camp com'd up tu him and bid him go tu his post. 
Woods said he had leave from his officer tu get his 
brekfiist, and refus'd. Camp swore, and Woods swore 
harder. They became noisy, and Woods martched tu 
his stashion holdin his musket which the other demand- 
ed. Camp sent tu the fort tu tell the gineral, who seein 
there v/as muteny com'd out like a hero, bellowin aloud, 

*' By the E 1 I'll blow a ball tliro' the rascal." 

Woods, persuaded by his friends tu surrender, did 
so, and was put in prison. Woods was put in prison 
on the 20th of Jinewary and kept there tell the 12th 
of March 1814, when he was coort marshal'd, and 
receiv'd sentence of deth tu be shot, as all military 
men prefer. The excitement in the army was grate. 
No one thou't Woods deserv'd deth, and petitions, sined 
by the officers and men nearly tu a man went tu the gine^ 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



57 



ral for his pardon. But the gineral had decre'd his deth, 
and he was shot. At his trial no one was permitted 
tu advocate his cause — he had no counsel — no one 
but a few knew when he wou'd be tri'd tell his trial was 
goin on, nor was there any one tu cull on witneses in 
his behalf. The judges arter his deth tri'd hard tu 
silence the upbraidins of conscience by abusin the ded 
man in his grave, re<2;ardless of the livin. I don't think 
the gineral approved of this; but grate men haint time 
tu see or hear about sich things, and their names are 
misus'd when ti^.ey dont know it. If the gineral had 
known that his friends had done so in his vindicashion, he 
wou'd feel'd a kinder uneasy, beiievin that if his trial and 
deth was fair, he hadn't no blame tu fear. 

The militia, instead ofbein quieted by this got mad 
as hornits, and in a day or tu one hundred and eighty 
deserted. These ^'salutary effects," was a kinder 
relief tu the army, as the worst bein gone, the rest 
become quiet, jist as when tu mad caps fite a duel and 
kill one another, tlieir neighbors have peace. 

It is queer that a gineral so much belov'd as Jackson 
was, shou'd never be without troubble and discontent. 
His men cou'd hoora, mutiny,and shoot the Ingins more 
than any men in the imll country. With the officers 
the gineral kept good terms ; they depinded upon him 
for praise and advancement. But the men vvou'd 
hoora for him as they were bid, and fite for him when 
they had a chance, but as for servin under him-^that 
they wou'dn't du oney when they oou'dn't help it. The 
gineral wasn't particklar nice about givin 'em hard 
fare and plenty of it when he cou'd ;.and wlien thej 
engag'd tu him he took care he wou'dn't disengage 'em 



58 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

tell he pleas'd. I guess he knew what was good for tlie 
country's glorj. The cause of these everlastin discon- 
tents was a perpetual effort tu make the men serve long- 
er than they were bound tu do by law, — those that 
refused he called deserters. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Battle of the Boss Shoe^ "A glorious chance o^ smah- 
blin the Ingins. Lots of 'em drawn out of their 
hidin holes the day arter the battle^ and kilVd. The 
Ingins findin the gineralwoiCd kill 'em all if they 
wouhlnH love him, professes grate friendship. Gin- 
eral Pinckney arrives. The gineral gives up the 
command. 

The solders of the gineral were alwase best when bus* 
sy, as children are when asleep. It was necessary 
therefore tu find more fitin for 'em tu keep 'em from 
runnin otf. It sometimes puzzled the gineral tu find 
out where he cou'd git fitin tu do 5 while lookin arter it, 
some new hubbub atween him and his men alwase so 
flustrated the camp, that he had his dander up all the 
time, and becom'd so rip-roarious that it wasn't safe at 
such times tu come near him — all his pashions bein 
patriotically exerted for the good of the country. 

Jist in the nick of time, word com'd in that the 
inemy had fortifi'd 'emselves at Tohopeka, or the 
Hoss Shoe, a bend of the Tallapoosa river. This camp 
was both naturally and artificially well fortifi'd. Gin- 
eral Coffy was sent tu reconnoitre, and found 'em in 
large numbers, and well prepared. The gineral broke 
up his camp, and was on the martch pritty quick tu git 
at 'em. 



60 



MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 



The ground occupied by the Ingins formed a leetle 
peninsula, the neck part bein about 330 yards wide.- 
This was fortifi'd with large timbers and trunks ol 
trees, ranged horizontally, and leavin oney one en- 
trance, which was well secured. They had a doubble 
row of port holes thro' which they cou'd take aim and 
fire in perfect security behind. , , ., - 

The In-ins imaginin their camp secure had then 
wiles ar.dl-amiUes moved in, an act they never d.d but 
when cocksure of victory and safety. Ginera ^Cofty 
and some friendly Ingins havin takin their stash.on on 
the southern bank tu draw 'em from the land quarter, 
the oineral himself arranged his men in trout of the 
stockades and loop holes alwase preferin the post o 
danger as the pint of honer. His artdlery he planted 
upon an eminence about 200 yards afore tne.r brest 
work,and begun to pour his fire up..n'emm a tempest. 
The infantrp had bin advanced towards the vvorks 
and kept up a fire at th. port holes as the Ingn.s show < 
'emselves. But all woud'n't do, the Ingins wou dn t 
bud-c a peg for cold led, so the gineral determm d tu 
t,y what effect cold iron wou'd l,ave. Jist afore the,r 
beef was tri'd with cold iron,Coffy was orderec. tu Une 
the river on tother side that none mite scape the gme- 
Shavin determin'd to extirpate 'e,n. Ml th.ngs bem 
„ readiness, the militia, havin forgot then- des r- 
Z and come tu the stickin pint were ord d 
tu charge. This was done an.idst a shower of bullets 
f^om tfebrestworks, thro' which they martch'd hkean 
"my ottomans tu whom t!,eir profet had prom.s d 
wadise. Kurnel Bunch led the men on in gallant 
5'; th contest now becom'd bloody, and the struggle 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 61 

warn't no longer for the nashion but for the port holes. 
The muskets were put against each other, so that the 
bullets were cotched upon the muzzle of the guns, which 
jist melted and welded 'em. The troops findin this 
kind of fitin woud'n't do, now scaled the ramparts. — 
The Tngins fled and conceal'd themselves in the brush- 
wood and timber. From these places of refuge they 
kept up fite, but were again charged and driven back. 
In desperashion, not knowin where tu flee, and deter- 
min'd not tu surrender, they tri'd tu escape by their ca- 
noos which lined the shore. Here runnin from the ti- 
ger they leapt intu the jaws of the crocodile, for CofFy 
and his men was ready tu hug them as the deel hug'd 
the witch, and close up the dead lites of them as fast 
as they appeared. They now return'd, but findin no 
way tu escape endeavour'd tu conceal themselves un- 
der the bank of the river and along the cliffs and steeps. 
There also they were hunted up and chunkt or bagnet- 
ted. The Ingins believin as the gineral had often said 
that they were tu be exterminated, resolved tu fite tu the 
last, and kept up the fire while the chance of killin a 
white face remained. For five hours the fitin continu'd, 
during which they were dragg'd out of their hidin pla- 
ces and destroy'd. 

The Ingins now collected in the west angle of their 
line of defence and made a desperate resistance. They 
had been conceal'd among the trees and bushes, when 
lited torches were thrown among 'em. Arter havin 
been ramsquaddled with the camp candlesticks of the 
gineral's men till a red man coud'n't be found,nite com'd 
on; those who cou'd use their trotters were off in the 
F 



62 



MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE. 



dark, but some on 'em conceal'd were dragged out of 
their hidin places and put to death the next mornin. 
The gineral thou't the glory of the nashion woud'n't 
shine bright enufftill he had brou'tflugens among them^ 
and didn't leave a fin tu tell the tale. 

1 tell'd jou a leetle ago that the Ingins had a grate 
number of Canoos. These, and their town, lay on the 
river shore. While the Ingins were all at their brest- 
work fitin, the friendly Ingins with Gineral Coffy 
swam the river, set the town on fire, and carry'd off 
many of the canoos. This divided the Ingins, some 
of whom came to protect the town. Their force was 
weakened and the gineral's army was thereby unable tu 
scale the ramparts, a trick that made the victory much 
easier. The mornin arter the battel, sixteen were 
found in holes, and were either chunk'd" on the canis- 
ter, scragged, or bagnetted,the gineral bein determin'd 
tufinisli the war when he had kill'dthe last on 'em. 

In this battel 557 were kill'd dead on the peninsu- 
laj a grate many were kill'd attemptin tu cross the 
river, and considerable of the women and children were 
so hurt that they di'd in or arter the scrimmage. Among 
the slaves was their three profets decorated like a hop 
merchant goin tu a fandango. Three hundred prison- 
ers were taken, most of whom were women and chil- 
dren, no warrior was spared who sought the clemency 
of the victors. The Ingins never give quarters, and 
isn't it rite tu imitate 'em? Faithless themselves they 
hadn't any faith in the white faces, and these prov'd 
that their faith was'nt misplaced. I hate the Ingins, 
and think the gineral placed a glory around his head at 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 63 

this battle, which in the records of humanity hasn't no 
parallel in Christendom. He showed grate mercy by 
killin 'em, tu save 'em from bein hungry when deer 
was scarce! The nashion's gratitude ib due tu him, and 
it hasn't bin paid at all accordin tu his merits. Some 
have censur'd the gineral for killin his prisoners, but 
every one knows that the war was begin'd and the gine- 
ral appinted tu outdo the Ingins in their own way, for 
they woudn t understand the christian mode of sparein 
the vanquished, and example wou'd be lost on sich fel- 
lers. Of the gineral's men oney 55 were killed and 
146 wounded. 

The gineral soon arter, havin joined the forces sent 
out from Georgia and the Carolinas, gave chace tu the 
Ingins, but coud'nt come up with 'em. The Ingins 
now findin no chance left begun tu sue for peace. The 
gineral marched his men tu the holy ground, a place 
the Ingins supposed was never trodden by a white-foot. 
But here they were met by the chiefs of the hostile par- 
ty suin for terms. The gineral tell'd 'em the terms 
on which they shou'd have peace was the surrender 
tu him, confined, of Wetherford their chief tu be dealt 
with. Wetherford, findin his danger,stole intu the camp, 
presented himself afore the gineral, and fearlessly de- 
manded it for himself and his people. ««I'm in yowr 
power," said he, " do with me as you please. I am a 
solder. I have done the white people all the harm I 
cou'd. 1 have fou't them bravely. If I had an army I 
wou'd yet fite and contend tu the last; but I have none; 
my people are all gone. I can do no more than weep 
over the misfortunes of my nashion." The warrior, 



64 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

findin the gineral firm, and fearful for his life, now 
prais'd him, teil'd him of his victories, his bravery and 
his generosity. This soften'd the gineral and he grant- 
ed the peace desired. In a short time major Gineral 
Pinkney com'd up and took command of the army. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Tlie gineral resolves tic visit his family takes leave of 
the army. Travels homeward alone. Several sin- 
gular adventures^ in which he got constantly in 
trouhhle. Taken as a deserter. The people wou^dnH 
believe he was gineralJackson. Escapes one danger 
and gets intu a second which was worse. Gets so 
consarntly flabagasted and cornubbled, he was amost 
laid under hatches. Sav'^d by the accidental arrival 
of his friends^ Reflexions worth attendin tu by 
grate men. 

The campane bein ended, the gineral resolved tu 
visit his family. He assembled the army round him 
tu give 'em his partin blessin and advisement. He 
receiv'd in return from 'em three harty hooras! He 
had his boss got ready, and dress'd himself in plane 
clothes tu travel home in, jist like a farmer, as he 
was goin tu be. His officers insisted that he shou'd be 
accompanied by his swete, in charackter of a trium- 
phant gineral, but he thou't this wou'd look for all 
the world as if he was afear'd tu travel alone, and he 
positively refus'd tu have any company. 

He sot out early next mornin on his journey. The 
country was thinly settled, and the roads warn't easy 
F 2 



66 MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 

tu find, the people wasn't very pernickity about 
civilization matters. The gineral, every short while, 
wou'd be brought up all standin tu find out the tru 
rout at every fork, and not a few times he got so 
tetotally flabagasted tu know how tu steer, that he 
was fairly at his wit's end. About noon he com'd up 
tu a log house. The sun was hot, he was fagg'd, and 
havin been pritty considerable in the wars was so 
scorchified with the weather that he looked for all 
natur like a rale scrouger in search of adventurs. 
His boss was taken away, and he followed the land- 
lord intu the house. The major domy was a lathy 
feller, and walked like deth's hed on a mop stick. He 
begun tu catechise the gineral smartically, axin him 
where he had bin, where he was goin, what he fol- 
low'd, and other questions. Tu all this the gineral 
replied, that he was a Farmer of Tenesee, and was 
lookin at lands in the wilds. You a farmer, said the 
landlord? by golly I a ski farmer, I shou'd guess; one 
who has land but who seldom sees it, a niggur driver, 
or may be a speck'later — or — or more likely you know 
more about smabblin Ingins. I take it, you're a boss 
wabbler from the army desertin your post. 
■ While the landlord was thus examinin the gineral, 
several of the neighbours enter'd, one of whom, a rale 
hlip-gibbet of a feller, hearin that the landlord was 
suspectin the traveller of bein a deserter, became a 
patriot in a flash, and took upon him tu be the fore- 
man of the jury. He tell'd the gineral pritty plainly 
he wasn't what he pretended, but a runaway from 
gineral Jackson's army; and that he shou'd go back and 
be tried and hung, for that he look'd like a feller that 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 67 

deserved a collar of hemp. Supposin they meant 
well, the gineral tu try 'em a leetle, confess'd he was 
from the army, but was goin home on leave. They 
then demanded his passorfurlow. The gineral hadn't 
any, which confirm'd their suspishions. The gineral 
thinkin the joke had gone far enufftell'd them he was 
gineral Jackson himself. At this they all cri'd out, 
you gineral Jackson I You are some impostor — swin- 
dler — and rais'd an uprorious hoss laff at his preten- 
shions. One of the fellers then laid hold of the 
gineral by the throte, and tripping up his heels laid 
him on his back, while the hull party were on top of 
him in a jifly, pummillin him without mercy. As soon 
as he'd bin thrown oiF his trap-sticks, one of the 
gang squirted a gob full of the essence of mundungus 
full in's face, in contempt of his claims, and at 
every kick they wou'd cry — you gineral Jackson I The 
gineral struggled hard; he thou't he cou'd've whip his 
weight in wild cats, but one of these alligator lookin 
fellers held him as if in a vice, while the rest ham- 
mer'd him. At length the gineral, gittin his hand 
loose found one of his snappers, when the fellers seein 
their danger cut stick and run, and at last he got tu 
rites on his eend. 

His assailants had taken tu the road, where they 
were swearin like troopers in battle, and were pre- 
parin tu chunk him the moment he appear'd. The 
gineral, in a foam of rage was gittin his pistols pre- 
pared, tu pursue. Jist then a door open'd, and he was 
address'd by a woman in a tone of condolence, who 
begun scoldin furiously at the mad men who had abus'd 
the stranger. The gineral on seein her was ralher 



68 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 

fain tu retreat, but the woman advancin as in a friend- 
ly way, got near, and while in crack with the gine- 
ral, made a slapdash at the snappers, and with a 
spring, bore them oft' tu her friends without. The 
gineral fortified himself as quickly as possible, by 
barrin the door, and preparin tu defend. While bissy 
at this, he heard a noise in the next room. In he 
went, and found a child cryin arter its mother. The 
gineral thought this a lucky chance, and seizin the 
child, he exhibited it at the window, swearin dread- 
fully that if they wou'dn't return his pistols, and pro- 
mise tu behave and let him go on his way without 
injury the leetle one shouM suffer with him. This had 
the desired eff-ect; but afore they giv'd up the pistols 
they discover'd his name on 'em; this convinced 'em that 
it was indeed the gineral they had so badly treated— 
and bavin return'd 'em and axt his pardon, they had 
a famgrasp, made friends, and while the woman made 
a dinner, the party held a jollification over a bottle as 
if nothin had happen'd, when the gineral's health was 
drunk more than twenty times. 

The gineral, havin parted from his new friends 
made a fresh start. When night was approachin he 
saw far ahead, a house, and near it a cluster of men 
at some exercise. On nearin 'em, he found a party of 
men at long bullets. Bime by the bullet com'd whiz- 
zin along the road, like a shot from one of his own 
guns, and was near strikin him down. This at onct 
raised the gineral's dander, but he thou't it was'n't 
the best place tu let out his rath, seein so many of 
the ring-tail roarers about him. It bein so late, he 
was oblig'd tu ask for lodgins. The house was a 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 69 

kinder shanty lookin place, a rondevous for the thirsty 
neighbors when they wanted a drink and a spree, arter 
the work of the day was over. A woman whom they 
call'd Meg, com'd forward as the landlady. The 
gineral's hoss was taken away, and he seated in the 
common room. Meg seemed tu have a drop in her 
eye, and her clothes, in tatters, was put on as if with 
a pitchfork. She was a rale slamakin, brawney, and 
look'd tor all the world as if she cou'd swallow a nigger 
if his hed was butter'd and his ears pin'd back. The 
gineral didn't feel himself comfortable^ but bein al- 
ways fond of the people he thought he wou'd git along 
much better by doing as they did. He axt for some 
whiskey, and while sippin it, the hull squad of bullet 
men com'd in, uproariously demandin the forfeits. 
Meg dealt out the slings as fast as they were call'd 
for, and the gineral sot unheeded, till they had got a 
round or tu, when one of the fellers begun tu snitch 
the gineral with his single peeper so curisly, passin 
round and round him as if he had been a non-des- 
cript monster cotch'd in the forest. Then comin up 
tu the gineral axt him tu share a sling with him. The 
gineral, who didn't think it manners tu refuse, accep- 
ted and drank a part. You must drink the hull on't, 
was the demand. Tu this the gineral objected. Then, 
said the woodsman, if you can't drink what I give 
you, I'll set you down as some elbow shaker j or aris- 
tocrat who don't care a d n for we woodsmen; or 

some dealer in fakements; or some knight of the road. 
You must drink I say; you look as if you cou'd swallor 
a bucket full of aquafortis sweetened with brimstone 
— down with it, or by golly I'll teach you tu despise 



70 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

the people and play the lattitat among the rustics. 
The voice of the woodsman now became uproarious. 
The gineral found himself surrounded by a squad of 
rabscallions who threatened that if he wou'dn't show 
himself one of the people he'd have tu defend himself 
like one of 'em, thought it best tu try and conform. 
He invited 'em tu sit down and he wou'd show 'em 
he cou'd drink with 'em, tell a tale with the best on 
'em if they'd oney give him fair play. They sot down. 
The bowl past round, and in a short time they were 
all tryin tu see who cou'd make the most noise. At 
last one of the party a Mr. Smonkey suddenly took a 
notion tu bus the landlady. She replied by a sock- 
dologer that made him retreat backwards three steps, 
in d'^oin which he fell over a bench, but tu save him- 
self he grab'd at the gineral who was next, and the tu 
roll'd over one another. Smonkey and the gineral 
were both on their feet in a minit; but the landlady 
made at her man like a cat, layin it on him rite, 
left, and centre in double metre. The gineral inter- 
fere, when one of the party cri'd do you take his part 
you skipe— you nigmenog— I'll darken your daylights 
for you. At this moment he flew at the gineral, who 
was now one of the people in earnest, they yok'd, and 
in the tug fell over ruft* and tumble, while the squad 
stood round cryin, give it tu him Smonkey, now for 
the lattitat, gouge him, hoop his barrel, stranger; fag 
him in the craw, hit him in the pudding bag, make a 
pen of his neb, lush his muzzle with pokeberry juice, 
while the contending party showered the blows upon 
one another till they were no longer able tu move. 
The combatants were now separated, had a fam- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 71 

grasp, pronounced one another the rale grizzle, and 
supper bein ready they sot down together. One of the 
woodsmen arter the gnieral had helped himself, snatch- 
ed up the plate, and swallow'd the contents, leavin 
scarce enufF on the table for the gineral tu whet his 
appetite upon. He was a rale slush-bucket, who 
never used his teeth upon any thing softer than shel-* 
barks, Comin up tu the gineral and givin him a 
skewvow look, axt him how he lik'd his supper. The 
gineral at this became .terribly rambunctious, jumped 
tu his feet, and swore by St. Tamany^'s beard he'd 
ramsqu addle him in a jifty if he'd say another word. 
Boh! says the man. At this the gineral up fist and 
planted a blow in his paunch, jist like a finisher 
given by one of his own cox when the game is up. T he 
house was instantly in an uproar. The party now, 
with one shout, cri'd, ^'out tu the green,— out tu the 
green," and every man, catchin hold of the man next 
him,— in an instant they were all out of doors. At the 
very moment when they were within the ring and 
their fists squared, up came a party of officers, who, 
findin the gineral beset, attacked the woodsmen, and 
giv*d the hull squad such a milvaderin as left them 
in a few seconds in a pile as if they had been Ingins 
smabbled at the Hoss Shoe the day arter the battlej 
then givin one hoora for gineral Jackson, cleared the 
house and took possession of it for the nite. 

The adventures of the day produced some deep re- 
flections in the gineral's mind. He thought he had 
been tu obstinate in not takin the advice of his friends. 
He had, it was tru, got a specimen of the squatters, 
or borderers, and he thou't it more than probable the 



72 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

poor Ingins, whom he had so terribly smabbled, were 
not so much tu blame as they 'd been represented. 
He wasn't sure whether, had he travel'd among the 
Ingins, he wou'dn't have enjoy'd himself more, bin 
safer, and raoie comfortable than with these wretches. 
And it was in defence, and upon the complaints of 
such men, the country had lately been at war with the 
Ino-ins? These were the "Dimocrats" on whom the 
honer and liberties of the country were based. They 
had given him a sample of their way of life; they 

were the strong arms tu— this he felt, and but 

while these honest reflexions were passin through his 
mind, another popt in, and drove 'em all belter 
skelter. This was, that if the people were ignorant 
as these were, how easy it wou'd be tu rule 'em-that 
is tu say, the man who can adapt himselt tu their 
habits, and secure their hooras, has nothin tu fear. 
Let him rise, and he may rule as he pleases; he may 
foUor his own inclinashions, and whatever it is, it will 
with sich men be all rite. Tu be supported by the mob, 
is a leetle ticklish tu be sure. They are inconstant as he 
waves of the ocean; and woe! woe! tu that country 
whose ruler, instead of seekin his support from the 
intelligence of the people, evokes the pashions of such 
men. How easy it is tu rally sich a party. But who 
can lay a foundation of government on such materials 
u support ginewine republickanism? Power can be 
bull upon ridiculous prejudices; indeed the ignorant 
aSays licks the feet of a tyrant in propor ion as he 
U cruel: The history of every nash.on m the world 
proves this, and also that with sich a ruling spirit, 
To h I be ty is safe nor law respected. But the man 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 73 

who rises upon the ignorance and prejudices of the 
people has this comfort — the worse thej rule, the more 
they approve it. Tliis day's travel has prov'd tu me, 
that when I voted as a member of the convenshion 
of Tenesee tu form a constitushion, against any man 
havin a rite tu vote at elections who hadn't 200 
acres of land in simple fee, I vvarn't far out of the way . 
Such men aint fit either tu rule, or appoint rulers. 
These paper-skulls will hoora! and if they onct be 
made tu think we are on their side they will every 
man on 'em cut their own throtes for us, and support 
us rite or rong. 

I guess the gineral show'd himself a master feller tu 
filosofise in this are matter. I think with the 
gineral, that it's best tu keep the people on our side^ 
they are always ready tu fitej they are so fond of it 
they never ax a word whether it is rite or no^ and 
when we want tu do as we have a mind, in spite of 
the aristocrats, oney let us curry favour with the mob, 
git 'em tu hoora, and all will jist go along slick as a 
whistle, and the aristocrats must grin and bear it. 
They will make the kind of musick for us we want if we 
oney rosin their fiddle bow. If we praise 'em they 
will honer us, and like two bosses in a field scratchin 
one another with their teeth till they neigh with the 
pleasure of it, every thing will go on nicely — except 
when one of the bosses bites tu hard the tother turns 
his heels, gives a kick, and gallops oft'. 



G 



CHAPTER Xni. 

The gineral made a gineml of in the United States 
army. His desire for this service, the cause of^ the 
army discontents. The gineral returns tu the Creek 
nashion as ambassador. Makes a treaty by dicta^ 
shion. He did the job rite stick, obtained amost all 
the Jngins territory, and got a slice for himself — 
The sinnet refuse tu act upon his separate Treaty, 
but approves all the rest. He never loves the sinnet 
a bit anymore arter. 

The gineral having settled his accounts with the 
Creeks and made 'em pay the reckomng,and havin also 
discharged the grumbletonians, was now thmkm ot 
restin awhile, but jist when the notion took him, 
a-inerals Hampton and Harrison resigned their com- 
missions, which made room for Gineral Jackson tu step 
rite intu their shoes. The government pop'd him in, 
and lie accepted a major gineral's commission, a rank 
in the United States' Service equal tu that he held in 
his own state. Tlie gineral, by acceptin this commis- 
sion, spread new glory round his head, and was prepared 
tu become the second saviour ot his country. 

That the gineral was catawampously inclin'd tu the 
United States' service there is little doubt. I suspected 
he had a cutty eye upon it all the time of the Creek 
war, because he never fail'd tu recommend his men tu 



w 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



75 



join the service when he cou'd. His constant squabble, 

? i suspect, was owin tu his givin them hard usage tu 

make them get tired of his service, and join the United 

States, where they wou'd have a more respectable rank 




as solders. But the men preferr'd goin home, which 
never fail'd tu raise his dander, especially when he 
found he had been milkin the pigeon with 'em. He 
had a number of officers who knew how tu butter him 



T6 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

up. The gineral tellM me he didn't never shrink from 
responsibilities when in the wars, or scruple about the- 
exercise of power. He thou't the law shou'd some 
times be suspended for the public good, and that the 
rites of the laws, like those of individuals, shou'd be 
forced tu submit when grate occashions demanded it. — 
Indeed he candidly confessed, one night when we had 
a long talk, and he was happy and didn't mind sayin 
his thou'ts abit, that it was the sure sine of grateness 
tu take responsibilities, and tu stretch power — for said 
he, rubbin his eyes, in all nashions of the world, power 
is rite, and this nashion bein one on 'em, it shou'd be so 
here tu. He never cou'd agree that the militia shou'd 
take turns in the service of their country. It w^as al- 
wase for the ivar he wanted tu keep his men, and so 
recommended that the government hold on tu 'em 
when they had 'em. 

Owing tu this noshion he didn't like the militia ser- 
vice a bit. He hated it, and worried the militia all 
the time tu get 'em tu join the regular service. This 
was all done for the good of his country, for the man who 
wou'd do good and rise, mustn't be pernickety about 
man flesh or feelings. The nashion is more worth 
than a state, the state than a county; a county than 
a town; and a town than any individual in't. — 
Now it is all rite, in difficulties, tu sacrifice the less 
tu the grater; and if a few dozen chaw-bacons be us'd 
up for the public benefit as solemn warnins tu the ob- 
stropulous tube quiet, isn't the glor/ of the nation in- 
creas'd by it, and do not the very men who suffer, 
cry hoora! and second all sich violence, no matter by 
whom us'd. Is'n't the man who kills honer'd most. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 77 

Let a man shoot his neighbour thro' a window, and eve- 
ry mother's chick in the hull country are in pursuit 
of him, and when he is cotch'd he's scra^g'd, but 
when a man, like the gineral, has shown his spunk, by 
fitin,or has prompted twenty duels, and seein the folks at 
loggerheads, then he is the public pet — every one 
speaks his praise; he is toasted at 4th of July dinners, 
and is on the fair way tu fame and grateness, if some one 
else don't come forrard who'd kill'd more than he had. 
This is the true sperit — the people of this nashion are 
all solders, every solder is bound tu love fitin, and be 
ready tu fite, and the nearer they come tu this . point, 
the sooner we are ready tu support a president who 
will, like the gineral, be independent of the people, 
and receive their hooras for bein so. 

The gineral did not long remain inactive. Commis 
sion'd by the United States, he prepar'd for further 
duties. He was now appinted an ambassador tu 
make a peace with the Ingins he'd conquered, not in- 
deed in the form of a negociashion, but of dictation. 
When the gineral received these orders, he giv'dayell 
and a jump as if old harry had suddenly sent in a 
draft for his acceptance. That's your sorts said 

he, you're the man for me. By gosh,- had I wish'd 

I couldn't have had my instructions more tu my 
mind, I never lik'd negociashion except for land, 
bosses or niggurs. I hate the Ingins, and now I'll 
work 'em. Now I've my cue. The wars aint over 
yet, but I'll put an eend tu't, if they'll jist capitulate 
upon my terms. 

The gineral now proceeded with a few in company 

tu Alabama, where he brou't the Creek Indians tu what- 
G2 



;;'8 MAJOR JACK DO^NING'S LIFE 

ever terms he chose tu dictate. . It is fact, the gine- 
ral warn't very pernickity about the terms. He de- 
manded and obtain'd most of their lands tu pay the 
expenses of the war; but in this treaty he took good 
care of number one, receivin from the Ingins three 
miles square of land for his own use and benefit as a 
separate conveyance. This treaty had tu pass in re- 
view before the sinnet, where it was rejected, and 
from that time tu this the gineral has hated the sinnet, 
and oppos'd it wheresomever he safely can. 

In the public treaty with the Creeks, the gineral 
show"d a nashion site of benevolence. He might as well's 
not, have order'd 'em all tu be nooz'd, or sent tu 
the rocky mountins tu live upon bears and huckleber- 
ries, but his bowels of compashion yearn'd over 'em 
so wonderfully that he giv'd 'em a leetle corner of 
their country, and took all the rest, leavin 'em oney 
the appearance of a nashion, and of independence, and 
made them promise tu hold no communicashion with 
them are Inglish or Spanish. 

In this treaty part of the Creek nashion which con- 
tinued friendly and aided the gineral saw their coun- 
try rent from them, a remnant oney bein left. it 
was in vain they complained. They were red men 
and mite some day be the inemies of the whites. The 
peaceable Ingins made a grate effort-appealed tu the 
P-ineral not tu take from 'em their lands, statin their 
Services and attachments. But the gineral said you 
are all Ingins, and your sinin the treaty ceding your 
lands or your refusin this evenin will determine whe- 
ther you intend tu remain friends or declare yourselves 
our foes. This was a stumper. I swow it had more 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



eloquence in it than if Clay had said it, for the Ingins, 
found that they were desired tu sine the treaty, or be 
treated as inemies if thej didn't, and so compelled 
tu take Hobson's choice, they agreed. Thus the firm- 
ness of the gineral carried all afore him. There is noth- 
in more certain, than that a gineral's commission is a 
nacky sort of thing tu convert a hector intu a hero, 
and a dolt intu a statesman. A lawyer, or a cabinet 
minister wou'd have argufi'd, and tri'd tu put things 
accordin tu justice; but a gineral in treaty makin— he's 
the very chap that can do the work, for if the knot can't 
be uuravell'd, why he draws his sword and cuts it rite 
in^ tu, and it is done in a wink. The reservations 
of land ceded tu the gineral by the Creeks was a pre- 
sent for his mercifully havin let 'em live and given 
'em a small bit tu prevent 'em from huntin, and tu 
make them farmers. The gineral was in a bothera- 
shion about acceptin it, but at last tu oblige 'em, 
consented, oney when brou't afore the sinnet it was 
never acted on or assented tu. 

As it's the life of the gineral I'm ritin, and not a 
history of matter and things which properly belongs tu 
the history of the country, I'll now state, with the 
reader's leave, a few facts deeply interestin tu the 
militia, who are fond of shootin, and bein shot at. I 
insist on't, every man who goes tu the wars and be- 
comes a solder, shou'd learn tu shoot balls as boys do 
marbles, and be familiar with 'em; because every man 
who has a commission may become a judge in cases of 
life and deth, and solders alwasc consider deth a re- 
lease from hardship. Now its considerable of a nice 



80 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

thing when an officer returns from the wars, tu be able 
tu tell the gals that he was honer'd bj his command- 
er, was on a coort marshal, and pass'd sentence of 

deth, upon some d d scoundrel. It's a subject of 

pride and boasting, aint it ? 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Reflexions about a solders life, and on Coorts Marshal, 
Explanashions of difficullies, atween the gineral and 
his men, about the service. Reason why the gineral 
wouldn't let the men go home when their time was 
out. He wanted 'em tu help tu make war on the 
Spanish possessions in Florida, and he didn't icant 
the government tu know it lest they\l hinder him. 
John Harris, one of the six militia men. Ax^dthe 
gineral about the shootin bisness. Me and the gin- 
eral has a long talk about it. 

It is alwase the duty of a biografer tu bring afore 
the eye of his reader what he thinks the hero * of his 
story had piost at hart. In axin the gineral about the 
Creek wars, he tell't me plainly nothin rested with so 
much weight on his mind as the six militia men who were 
shot for desertin. I have, said he, employ'd much labor 
tu get this subject fair and strait. I knew if I cou'd 
git the public any how tu approve, my conscience wou'd 
sit considerable easy ^ and now since they've made 
me president I look upon the shootin of them are six 
militia men as the best act of all my life, I expected in 
the war tu have lost a grate many men ; I lost but i&Wy 
and findin the men obstropulous about goin home I 



82 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

thou't the young officers wou'd be pleas'd tu see a leetle 
shootin when they warn't in no danger, and much more 
pleased tu have a chance of try in, as judges in a Coort 
marshal, a lot of the disturbers, especially as some on 
'em cou'd be spar'd, so few havin bin kill'd in the fitin. 
The shootin of deserters mite hinder some from joinin 
us, but it wou'd skeer those that remain'd and make 
'em stay where they were, for fear they wou'd be shot 
tu, for no one blames an officer who shoots down his 
solders, arter all the inemies are kilPd. This is the 
bisness of a solder; when his officer bids him tu stand 
up and be shot, he must do it, and if he refuse, he 
must be shot stand or not. 

The gineral found that fitin was his ilement. The 
more blood the more glory, was alwase the thou'ts that 
govern'd him. Tu let his friends know what a giner- 
al's commission contain'd cou'dn't be done without 
lettin it h^felt on his own people, for everyone know'd 
it giv'd him a rite tu kill all his inemies. 

In the month of June 1814, the gineral was commis- 
shion'd in the United States service. He had been suc- 
cesful in whippin the Ingins, but unfortenate in his 
own family of operators. Their discontents had gall'd 
him considerable. His men knew the law tu well for 
him tu cheat 'em, and were plaguy sticklers for it. 
The gineral wou'd explain the law accordin tu his under- 
standin of it; and he took consarnt care not tu know it 
a bit till the Ingins were all kill'd. When the militia 
said they were call'd out only three months, the gineral, 
like a master feller for doin bisnes, took the three months, 
and havin put 'em on a blacksmith's anvil hamer'd 
them out tel they were six months, and jist tell'd the 



OF GENERAL JAGKSON. 85 

men they look'd for all natur like as if the legislatur 
had made 'em six months without weldin. He then 
tell'd his men that they were six montns in the Creek 
nashion, where there warn't no law yet, that his commis- 
shion was congress, and legislatei, and judge, and 
exe-cutioner, and every thing else. He tell'd me he 
rote tu the governor jist tu say while he was in the 
Creek nashion, he needn't be very pernickety about 
law, that it wou'd be highly criminal tu shrink from 
responsibility, or fidget and scuffle about the exercise 
of power. Here, says he, I have, by a stroke of a ha- 
mer, made three months intu six — I have said it was 
law — that the men who wouMn't believe it law wouM be 
coort marshal'd and shot as deserters, and that the laws 
of the state of Tenesee must be suspended until arter the 
Ingins were all smabbled. The men howsomever, didn't 
understand how he cou'd splice, oi weld, or hamer out 
three months, and deserted in droves. They were 
brou't back tu answer ; some com'd of their own free 
will, and it happen'd by desine that those who return'dof 
their own free will were sentenced and shot. He thou't 
they must have bin dick'd in the nob tu put 'em- 
selves in danger arter bein safe, and that they cou'd 
best be spar'd. 

The militia when they are call'd tu perilous duty, 
alwase take care tu avoid more of it than they can by 
law get clear of. Havin bin cali'd out for three 
months, they kept the hour of their liberation anx- 
ious in view. They seed the gineral disregard law, 
and make it as he went along tu suit his occashions — 
they seed him forgiv'n by the government, when, as they 
thou't he deserv'd to be hang'd, and receive applause 



84 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIVE 

tor that which, if follerM by all the ginerals wou'd 
put an eend at onct tu all order, discipline and law.— 
When they seed their gineral act thus, and the very 
insulted government knock under and approve, they 
thou't no one cou'd blame 'em for jist goin home 
when they had fulfill'd their part of the bargain. But 
they were mistaken, as I will now tell ye. 

About the 20th of September, 1814, the time expired 
for which the militia suppos'd they were tu serve.— 
They had determin'd tu serve no longer, and accordin- 
ly martshed off for home. Some on 'em returned tu 
their homes, but others were overtaken, and brou't 
back pris'ners. At that time the Creek war had bin 
eended, there was no inemy in the land, and they 
thou't their rites shou'd be respected. The gineral 
had in his mind an attack upon the Spanish posses- 
shions in Florida, but bein a prodigious thinker, 
and famous for lockin up all his determinashions m his 
own bosom, he put a veto on the desires ot the militia, 
and resolv'd tu keep 'em tel they wou'd execute his 

projects. 

Among the deserters from Fort Jackson there was 
Jacob Jfehh. David Morrow, John Harris, Henry 
. Lewis, David Hunt, and Edward Linsay All 
these six, from time tu time arriv'd;at home, but hearm 
they were under censure, voluntarily return'd tu duty, 
begged forgiveness, and promis'd tu be faithful. 

I guess my readers wou'dn't forgive me, nor the gine- 
ral nother, if I wou'dn't jist give some account of 
these cases, for the reason that folks like tu read about 
hangin and shootin above all things. The account o 
John Harris will be nearly the account of all, and 1 II 
jist tell it. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 85 

In the fall of 1813, John Harris's son, James, a boy 
«)f sixteen years of age, enroU'd himself tu serve a 
tower of duty. His father thinkin him tu young tu 
go without protection, took the place of another man 
drafted in the same company and went with him. 

Arter a three month's tower, John Harris, believin 
his time^of service was out, com'd home, havin givin 
t^} his gun and lifted his receipt. 

On gettin home, he learnt that the gineral had order- 
ed 'em back by express. He stay'd home three or 
four days, and started back of his own accord. He 
was warn'd tu keep out of the way, for that the giner- 
al didn't want him tu shoot his inemies, but tu jist 
stand tu be shot at for the good of the public, Harris 
said he had done nothin for which they'd hurt him, even 
before a court marshal, and that if they insisted on a 
new term of service, he wou'd go and give it, as lirs 
kurnel said if they'd go home he'd give 'em rashions 
tu support 'em. 

Harris went on tu Fort Jackson, and giv'd himself 
up tu Kurnel Hart. The Kurnel was jist settin out 
for Mobile, with his men, and Harris was brou't along 
handcuft''d. Arter comin tu Mobile, Harris with the 

other prisoners, was tri'd, and sentenc'd tu deth. 

Harris wrote tu his friends and also tu the gineral for 
pardon, or a new hearin. Then, for the first time, the 
gineral charges him with "robbery and arson." The 
arson case was the throwin the bakehouse intu a river, 
or settin it on fire, or some sich thing, and the robbery 
was the takin rashions for his journey home, from the 
public stores. It was prov'd on oath, howsomever, that 
iht gineral oney guest that he was guilty, as the bake- 
H 



86 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 

house had bin drownM a .veek afore, and the kurne, 
had givin him supplies, on receivm h.s gun, and deUv 

f Lint for it The sineral who was bnmful of 
ennlnsrecptfor t. T g ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^_ 

patriotism, let ^t J>^' ™" ,^i,„ ,bo«t Harris, he 

When moneco^AJ^ I ^^^ ^^ ^^^^,^^^^,^_ 

Tvast^rH e'at s d, tLs tu c^me near him. These 
Itwasteriioie ,,^„ ^ etition was 

SeT^Un'tUSstof^heseiitiacationshewas 

Lu' - off « the defence of New Orleans 

" :ltters where justice is tu be ^-^^}<'\fll 

hadn't offended ^ b'^" - "^f ^^ ,,^ ? „,, ,,,. 

of my statements. 1 ax d """ " J .„,^,, 

says 1, J" allowM you tu shoot him that 

towards a man who had allow a )o 

"" "'"," !" .b.t " '""«»"> - '•"•••^ ■'■'■' 



OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 87 

\itenin, and givin one whack on the table with his hick- 
ory, makin the house ring tu the garret, he said, now 
says he, Major, I'm goin tu tell you that that are Har- 
ris deserv'd tu be shot. If he and a few more had bin 
quiet, all the rest wou'd, and then I wou'd have had 
my men whom I took so much pains tu train, ready tu 
fall upon the Spanyards in Florida, for I was then me- 
ditatin a war aginst 'em, but had it all lock'd up in my 
own brest, afeard the government wou'd find it out, 
and prevent me. I wanted tu do the work, and let 
'em first know about it when it was done. I like tu 
take my own way. I tell ye, Major, the fewer men do 
a work, the better and quicker it is done. 

But, gineral, says I, that is not '• dimocrasy." — 
Oh ! says he, as tu the matter of that, I can make it 
dimocrasy at a word. It only wants me tu say it was 
done for the people, and all will be dimocrasy in a 
flash. 

Before I say any more about these unfortenate men, 
I will lead the reader a trip tu Pensacola, with the 
gineral, and tell a leetle of his adventurs there; then, 
arter a short excursion among the Ingins, lead him tu 
New Orleans where his glory ris'd tu sich a hight, as 
amost tu set the hull nation in a blaze — arter which I 
will make a few remarks about their trial and deth. 



CHAPTER XV 

Controversy with the governor of Pensacola. Tlie 
gineral martch'd an army tu dispossess him. Span- 
yards oppose, aided by the Inglish. The gineral took 
the town and forts. Blowin up of the Barancas. 
The gineral givhl all np and martschhl hack. Jlrriv'd 
at j\ew Orleans. Battle of Larond's Plantation. 
The Caroline openhl her month and spit fire at 'm. 
Coffy^s riflemen treed their game. The Inglish 
driven from ditch tu ditch, until the darkness sav'd 
them. The gineral, victorious, draws off his men, 
and encamps for the nights 

Jist as the militia pris'ners were comin in of their 
own accord tu be tried and shot, the British, on the 
Florida coast begin'd tu commit mischief. The gineral, 
who for a long time had his eye on Florida, rt lying 
so snug on our southern skirts, found now a good 
apology. The Governor of Pensacola was not friend- 
ly. He cover'd the Inglish, and encouraged the lu- 
gins. From that city much mischief came upon our 
adjoinin States, and it was necessary tu have a better 
understandin with him, or jist, in the absence ot his 
master, tu dispossess him and take care of his property til 
his people wou'd come and take it away, allowin the land 
tu remain till we cou'd use it for our own purposes. 
Afore the gineral sot out for Florida,>e Inglish made 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 89 

a terrible attack on Fort Bowyer, at the entrance of 
Mobile river. The commander, with his leetle squad, 
giv'd 'em a neat dressin, and made them hike faster 
than they com'd on, first blowin up one of their vessels, 
and sendin a hull grist of 'em tu feed the herrins. 

This bein done, the gineral sent for his best game 
chick, gineral Coffj, old live oak, who was up tu trap 
whersomever he went, and never fail'd tu send his ine- 
mies tu kingdom come without benefit of Clergy, as 
if he had oney bin breakin hemp. They were soon 
on the way, but on their near approach tu Pensacola, 
they encamped, and a flag officer was sent forrard tu 
tell the governor the object of their visit, and de- 
mand a surrender of the forts in his possession, the city 
and military stores tu be taken care of and arterwards 
disposed as the parties shou'd agree upon. The 
flag officer was fired upon and compell'd tu return. 
The Inglish flag, which the day afore had bin hoisted 
along side the Spanish, had bin haul'd down, the Span- 
ish alone flyin tu protect his inemies. It was as- 
certain'd that the attack on the gineral's flag was 
made by the Inglish in the fort, and not the Spanyards. 
On soliciting the governor tu give up his possesions 
peaceably, he refus'd, when it was determin'd tu com- 
pel him forthwith. 

The city was garrison'd and the advances well pro- 
tected by a fort. The gineral, tu make believe he 
was goin tu attack them rite in front, drew up part 
of his army as if prepar'd tu martsch forrard, while 
with the main body he took a circuit and com'd upon 
them in flank of the town, out of range of the prin- 
cipal battery, and secure from the fire of the Indish 

H3 ^ 



90 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

ships in the harbour. Afore the Spanyards know'd 
what he was doin, the gineral com'd down on them 
like a clap of thunder. The stratagem was a grand 
'un, and arter a leetle skrimmagin they were forc'd tu 
ax the gineral's pardon, the governor himself seekin 
the gineral, and consentin tu give up all if he'd 
oney have mercy and not sacrifice them — for the good 
of the country. In a short time the forts and public 
stores were all surrender'd; and every thing was done 
tu make peace, which the governor cou'd do, arter he 
cou'dn't no longer make war. 

The Fort St. Michael's was not deliver'd up with- 
out a shot which kill'd three bosses and woonded tu 
men. The flag was then taken down. The Fort of 
Barancas 14 miles distant v/as next day blown up, 
and the necessity of its possession render'd need- 
less. 

As all this attack and capture of Pensacola and the 
Forts had not bin authoris'd by the government, but 
was the doins of the gineral himself, who now sot out 
tu make war and peace as the whim took him, he con- 
cluded, on lettin the Spanyards see what he cou'd do, 
tu jist give all up agin and return back as he com'd. 
In tu days arter takin the town he left it, tellin the gov- 
ernor he left him tu re-occupy his forts, and pursue 
his concerns as he had done afore. 

The hostile Ingins who had bin with the Inglish in 
Pensacola, fled intu the country. The gineral, who 
hated the Ingins worse than the Spanish, preferred 
givin up his recent victories tu lettin the Ingins 
escape. He prepar'd tu pursue. Major Blue was 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 91 

instantly sent arter 'em, and gineral Mcintosh, of the 
Georgia militia, \ras order'd tu aid him. 

The Forts Barancas and St. Hose, blown up by the 
Inglish, the Spanyai ds begun tu rebuild. The Inglibh 
offer'd assistance, but the governor said, that as the 
gineral was now his friend, he wou'd send for him when 
he needed help. 

The coast bein clear of the inemy, the gineral now 
return'd tu Mobile, and soon arter proceeded tu New 
Orleans, which becom'd threaten'd considerable. He 
arrived there on the 1st of December and establish'd 
his quarters in it. There he found the people all in 
the dumpsj there was a general depression of sperits; 
the people seem'd tu have taken the collywabbles, and 
every one was afear'd tu speak his mind tu his neighbor, 
becase no one knew whether his neighbor wasn't a spy, 
or a disguis'd inemy. The city was in grate distress, 
becase it seem'd an omnium gatherum of people from 
all nashions, and no one cou'd tell who was a friend 
from a foe. 

The gineral wasn't one of those chaps who cou'd be 
caught nappin, nother with chaff. The people haviu no 
confidence in one another, and the governor afear'd tu 
command 'em lest they shou'dn't obey, all were glad 
when the gineral made his appearance. The fence 
riders now took courage and jumpt clean off. Now, 
they wou'd say, here's old hickory come, and live oak 
a commin, and he'll do more than Clapperclaw if 
they'll oney come tu the scratch. The gineral not 
findin a good supply of arms, and the Inglish bein 
on the coast and supposed preparin tu make an attack 
on the city, went at onct tu work, order'd the gov- 



92 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

ernor tu duty, the people tu arms, and instantly com- 
pelled every mountybank, and elbow-shaker, frezier, 
bully-trap, and janizary, lolly-poop, sea-crab, caper 
merchant. Badger, Dandy-pratt, and Fidlam-ben he 
cou'd lay hands upon in the city tu muster in his 
army. These he handed over tu his drillers, while he 
set rite about instructin the governor in his duty and 
callin the citizens tu arms. He then tell'd the people, 
what I tell'd him tother night in bed when talkin of 
these are matters,— that is, he that isn't for us is aginst 
us. He alluded tu the inclinashions of the people,^ I 
tu the constitushion of the country, and when I jist 
call'd his mind tu it a minit he said you are rite 
Major— may be the people have rites as well as we— 
I'll think on't. 

The gineral went at work in good earnest. He had 
gards station'd every where tu watch and detect spies 
and informers. The sperits of the people soon rose 
tu 100 degrees, and the militia flocked in tu aid him in 
its defence. The brave Kentuckians, under Shelby, 
was no less prompt— they was aflote on the Ohio and 
Missippi in a flash, and afore you cou'd say Jack 
Robinson the troops from Lousiana, Kentucky, Ten- 
esee, Ohio and other places, the real screamers, who 
cou'd ''grin the bark ott* a tree, look a panther tu deth, 
stand three streaks of lightnin without dodgin, and 
suck for bitters a noggin of aqua-fortis sweeten'd with 
brimstone, stir'd with a lightnin rod, and skim'd with 
a hurrycane, — were on their martch." 

About the nth December the gineral was informed 
the Inglish had anchor'd on the coast. The gineral in 
the hurry of his preparashions, for defence forgot tu send 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 93 

for j!;meral Coffy at Sandy creek. When the gineral 
thou't of this it amost skeert him, as he found he had 
bin preparin materials which were of doubtful temper, 
while his own tri'd men were within his reach and so 
long — perhaps till tu late an hour, forgot. It was old 
governor Clairborne whom the gineral put intu his 
coat pocket as soon's he took the comm.and, who popt 
thenoshion intu his hed, of sendin for Coftj. At first 
the gineral cou'dn't think of drawin his army from 
Mobile, which he kinder consider'd a pet; but, the 
wealth and importance of New Orleans — the charac- 
ter he had at stake — the chance of impeachment, and 
the probability, if under the ban, of havin tu answer 
for a string of sins as long as a Portuguese Prayer 
Book, — he concluded that it was at New Orleans, 
arter all, he was tu pierce the cloud and let the glory 
shine upon him in full blaze — and he did it smartick- 
ally I tell ye. 

On the 19th gineral Carrol arriv'd from Nashvil, 
and gineral Cofty from Sandy creek. This vet'ran 
had amo?t kill'd his critters, by drivin 'em like Jehu 
140 miles in tu days, and a part over bad roads. He 
commanded 1200 mounted rifle men, whose harts al- 
wase swell'd and felt big when they heard there was 
danger comin. There was now assembled at New 
Orleans, Carrol's men 2,900; Coffy's, 1,200; city 
militia 1000; Reglars 700; mareens and saviors 150; 
in all 5950 men, — and the gineral. 

On the 23d the gineral was informed that a body of 
the red coats had landed on the banks of the Missippi, 
some miles below the city. He thou't it best tu give 
those chaps a curnubblin, jist tu incourage the folks 



94 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

in the city, and make 'em believe all safe when he 
guided the helm of attkirs. A division of 1276 men 
commanded by the brave Coffy and himself, was as- 
sembled and martch'd off tu attack 'em. When on 
the way some distance it was discover'd that Major 
Planche's battallion of 400 men hadn't not even a 
single blank catridge in their pouches. The gineral 
findin out this, as he did by accident, was in a delite- 
ful foam. He laid the blame on every one all round 
him, officers and men. One of the officers, by way 
of excusin himself jist venter'd tu say that he didn't 
look intu the aftair, since he thou't that his comman- 
der, who bad reviewed this Battallion when encamp'd 
on the Bay-you St. John, had attended tu their wants; 
but the gineral, who is a master feller for wardin oflf 
blame, thunder'd out a storm of rath and fury upon 
the impudent rascal, and threaten'd tu fling him by 
the heels intu the Missippi if he wou'd say another 
word, so that he heard no more blame, and the officers 
tu please him divided it among themselves tu make it 
lite upon each. The major return'd tu git his catridges, 
and the rest mov'd on tu battle. 

The gineral now^ sent Kurnel Hinds with a party of 
Dragoons tu reconoitre. They soon return'd with 
informashion of their sitewashion and number. The 
gineral, had now for the first time tu meet a reglar 
disciplin'd army in the field. He knew his men. 
Every chick on 'em was a born hero, tried, and wou'd 
fite for him tu the last kick. On this he hadn't nothin 
tu fear, but he thou't his men hadn't experience and 
tackticks enuft' tu cope with fellers who cou'd go intu 
all shapes in a minute. The gineral harang'd his men. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 95 

He said he was determin'd tu fite till death, or gain 
the nite, for it was now dusk, and the battle must be 
fou't in the dark. He tcll'd 'em how well they had 
fou't in all battles where he led 'em, and now they 
must do better than ever^ and thatas"he was command- 
er of the land and naval forces he had order'd commo- 
dore Patterson tu co-operate, and take 'em upon the 
flank oft' the river and pepper 'em gloriously. The 
orders was now given, but tlie red coats didn't know a 
bit what was comin, for they was sittin snug round 
their camp fires fillin their kittles and makin coffy 
when another kind of Coffy was a preparin which giv'd 
considerable of them the mulligrubs. While the gineral 
was advancin and afore he was ready, captin Henly 
of commodore Patterson's squadron dropt down with 
the stream till she was rite afore the flank of the 
Inglish camp, when he down anker about 100 yards 
from shore. Some of the Inglish seein the vessel 
thou't it was from New Orleans from their friends, 
with provishions. They hail'd, schooner ahoy! what 
have you got tu sell; nothin, says Henly, but a leetle 
tu give away gratis. Then in a low voice he axt his 
men if they were ready. Al! ready! — Then give it tu 
'em; says he. In a wink the port holes were up, the 
guns out, and bang! bang! bang! went his hull broad- 
side rite intu 'em, as if he had bin shootin at ducks 
on a mill pond. The Inglish was in a fine sitewashion 
tu get kill'd; the grape and canister shot went rattlin 
among men and kittles, and in a minit spilt all their 
cofty, and sent a hundred or tu of 'em tu peg trantums 
in a giffy. The livin ones were on their trapsticks 
quick enuff*, I tell ye, and began tu play oft* their 



96 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFE 

rockets tu the amusement of Henly, who wasn't a bit 
nother hurt nor skeert by 'em. 

While Heniy and his men were ridlin 'em with his 
grape, the gineral com'd up tu 'em. He found the 
inemy preparin tu meet him, and he arrang'd the order 
of battle. The gineral felt confident, and was burn- 
in with a flame of glory. The inemies' fires show'd 
their posishion tu be a rite nice one, and the gineral 
deploy'd his men so as tu make his rifles pop 'em by 
the blaze of their own fires. The inemy was drawn 
up, their left eend on the river, and their rite runnin 
out towards the woods. Gineral Cofty who had dis- 
mounted his men and turn'd his bosses out tu grass, 
took the side next the woods, tu shoot at 'em side 
ways, while the gineral took 'em front and rite, tu 
keep 'em strate, so that while the Caroline might pepper 
'em from the river, Coffy mite be at 'em on tother side. 
This wou'd havefix'd their flints pritty slick, hadn't 
the ship found it necessary tu stop, afear'd they wou'd 
shoot Coffy and his men, when they fir'd at the inemy. 
The gineral knew better, for our own balls he knew 
warn't never made tu kill our own men. Commodore 
Patterson thou't they wou'd, for which he deserv'd tu 
be coort marshal'd, becase the gineral know'd better. 

The gineral, who cou'd gaft' a cannon as well's a cok, 
was now prepar'd,oney Plauche's men hadn't yet com'd 
up with their catridges. The attack was now furiously 
commenc'd. Cofty advancin towards the inemy, re- 
ceiv'd a heavy fire in his front. The fire from the 
Caroline had made the inemy scamper, and form near- 
er the advancin lines of the inemy than they had ex- 
pected. The riflemen was tell'd tu fire one^^ when 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 97 

sure of aim, and the line press'd on. When they 
com'd near enuff tu see the whites of their eyes they 
were order'd tu fire. Gosh I what a tumblin! What 
didn't come tu their marrow bones had tu take leg bail 
in quick time I tell ye. The inemy warn't no slouch- 
es nother, so arter runnin a leetle, they rallied and 
form'd. The rifles charg'd agin and agin they re- 
treated. Old live oak said tu his men, go on my boys; 
the work's afore ye; ye know how tu do it; and you 
are above my praise. Coffey was calm and resolute as 
an elephant goin tu push a ship oft' the stox, but the 
gineral who didn't fear man nor divil was heard above 
the roar of his guns. His voice and presence was eve- 
ry where He had led his men by the side of the 
river, where the Inglish made a determin'd stand, and 
fou't like furies for a full half hour. The gineral's men 
wou'dn't budge a peg, nor wou'd the Inglish; at last the 
Kentucky and Tenesee rifles began tu pop 'em like 
squirrels, and so fast that they got behind the levee 
for protection. 

While this was goin on Coffy was rowin the rite 
wing up salt river in glorious stile. The Inglish tind- 
in his rifles tu sure, got intu an orange grove, with a 
ditch and fence in front. Cofty pursu'd 'em, charg'd 
across the ditch, giv'd 'em a dedly fire, and made 'em 
scamper out agin. The Inglish now got the old levee 
next the river behind^ and a new levee bank form'd in- 
ward tu protect the country from the rise of the wa- 
ter, afore 'em. Here they were secure; and the nite 
bein dark, and no chance tu git at 'em, from the rifles 
on this, or the fire from the ships on tother side they 
were for a while lodg'd in safety. I 



98 

Havin lodg'd the rite of the IngUsh atween tu banks 
with the gallant Coffy threatenin it terribly, if they 
wou'd but pop their nebs above the ditch. I will now 
go tu the gineral, and tell how he ramsquaddled 'em 
on the left. 

Liftenant Spotts, with sixty mareens, was order'd tu 
move down the levee road, with the 7th regiment on 
their left,and the 44 agin on their left. Brigadeer Ross 
marched the men by companies until they approach'd 
the inemy's line. Then he order'd 'em tu deply, and 
connect his line with that of Coffy's. This wasn't 
done, and some confusion took place, which left a consid- 
erable of a gab atween the rite and left of the army. 
Plauche's Battallion now com'd up with their catridg- 
ges; and were order'd tu fill the gap, but major Plau- 
che havin got a drap of the critter, and not bein as 
well prepar'd tu fite as hoora, mist his aim, but hap- 
pen'd by chance tu stumble in the way of the right 
wing. The brave men giv'd 'em their cartriges na- 
tion^'well, the meetin was at the nick of time, as the 
IngUsh in a few minits wou'd have flanked the gineraU 
and routed the whole army. At this time the fitin 
and confusion was considerable on both sides, and but 
for the obstinate bravery of the forces under the gine- 
ral, who fou't thro' thick and thin, knowin the gineral 
meant 'em tu fite whether he wou'd tell 'em how tu do 
it or not, his star, now agin lord of the ascendant, 
wou'u have bin blink'd. 

The fog from the river, the smoke from the guns, 
and the darkness of the nite, put the moon intu mourn- 
in. She wept heavy dew for the sins of these chris- 
tian's while endeavorin tu do one another all the div- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 99 

elment" they cou'd. But there was no help for it. The 
Inglish had bin so long us'd tu fitin they didn't know- 
how tu get along without it. Arter tryin all Europe they 
com'd over tu see whether we here wou'd fite any, 
and now that they tri'd our mettle, it was rite tu give 
'em a specimen, and send 'em home content and happy 
that wc wern't without good spunk. 

The Inglish who thou't they wou'd have cornubbled 
the gineral afore Plauche com'd up with his catridges, 
had now tu spin it. They got behind a ditch, and bid 
defiance. As the gineral advanc'd they kept waitin 
until he was pritty near, and then open'd a heavy fire. 
Quick as a flash our men mounted their battery, and 
they giv'd it tu 'em, I guess they warn't no dumplins 
at a Christmas dinner — the small arms plajin a canticle 
that put ever so many of 'em intu a lastin lulaby. The 
gineral prest forrard. The Inglish by this time had a 
considerable of an antipathy tu his presence, and 
endeavor'd tu preserve their dignity, bv a proper dis- 
tance. Some of the less pernickity made a rally upon 
our mareens who didn't like the contact 'cause they 
warn't from Kentuck nor Tenesee, but a division has- 
ten'd tu their support, made the inemy haul in his 
horns, and back it, but the gineral findin the inemy tu 
securely intrench'd order'd their line tu be charg'd. — 
Now for old Kentuck! — now Tenesee! give it tu 'em 
my lads, six inches of your cheese-toasters! give the 
landers and croakumshires a bit of gig for their news- 
papers ! ! By this time the gineral gain'd the ditch, and 
then sent across it a tempest of Missouri lead gratis in 
honor of the national debt of old England, when the 
bloody-coats fell back tu another drain and ditch 



loo MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 

where they fou't desperately, but our brave boys from 
Kentuck soon made them fall back still farther — the ar- 
tillery in the mean time playin upon 'em where it 
cou'd with effect. 

The inemy had now been forced back amost a mile. 
The darkness did more for them than their stars; their 
tumor and big look at the beginin was pritty well 
tap'd, and they look'das slim as Calvin Edson. With 
Coffy, the communication had bin broken off. He 
knew from the sharp crackin of his rifles that his men 
had treed the game; but as by this time it had nearly 
subsided, and as the Caroline had also ceas'd her 
operations, he concluded they had us'd the inemy up, 
and was lookin out for more stuff tu work upon. 

By this time as the darkness was grate and the 
confusion, rite and left, still grater, the gineral re- 
solved tu retire from a field where his men had so 
bravely fou't and so .gallantly conquer'd. The order 
was given tu retire tu Larond's plantashion where the 
army had first form'd and encamp for the nite, at 
which place Coffy and his men joined 'em. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

The inemy begin to lower their notions of invincibility. 
Some curious adventurs to the nite battle. The ine- 
my obtain reinforcements. The gineral commences 
his battery. S. description of it. Me and the gin- 
eral holds a conversation. The gineral peskily con- 
sarn'd for his glory. The inemy outwitted. Great 
preparations for assault and defence. The battle of 
the 2Sth December. The inemy thrashed over agin. 
The gineraPs Coffy giv'd the inemy the Collywab- 
bles. The legislatur goin tu put the gineral's glory 
under a bushel. The governor slash's their pro- 
ceedings. Kurnel Hinds. 

Bj this time the swannery of the John BuUites be- 
came pritty much a gooserj. The old stiffrumpers 
begin'd tu waddle as limber as if they had never bin 
proud of their exploits with the monseers. I guess, 
some of the princox of the drill was made tu kiss the 
earth in token of submishion, and the British Uni- 
corn tu trot off upon three legs. 

The gineral, who was never basketed at a cok-pit, 

or squaddled in a fite, or bited in a bargin, or chauce- 

ried in a row, or plum-stingy in a duel, or a hum-dur- 

geon when danger was near, or cow-handed on the 

1 2 



102 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

turf, wasn^t backward, when his country needed him 
or the inemy afore him, tu bell-the-cat with the veter- 
an followers of Wellington. He now brou't his troops 
together, all but the men of Kurnels Dyer and Gibson 
and of Captain Beal's riflemen. These somehow got 
spifilicated when the inemy made a lodgment in the 
orange trees. They were sitewated something like 
squint-a-pipes, who was born in the middle of the week 
and didn't know which side tu look for Sunday. In ma- 
kin a choice, they kinder smelt the inemy in the dark, 
com'd rite upon 'em., and was challeng'd, order'd tu stop 
and report tu whom they belonged. Dyer and Gibson 
advanced and announced their colours. The inemy not 
understandin 'em they concluded they were in the 
wrong shop and wheeled tu take ='emselves oft", but a 
volley follor'd. Gibson had scarcely started when he 
fell, in a wink a solder pin'd him tu the ground with 
his cheese-toaster, but as the fates wou'd have it he was 
only slitely woonded and held by his clothes. Thus 
pinion'd, and find in others advancin,he made^a violent 
eftbrtjsprung tu his feet, threw his inemy tu the ground, 
and made good his retreat. Dyer in a few minutes 
had his boss shot under him. Entangled by the fall 
and woonded, and tbe inemy close upon him, he or- 
der'd his men tu advance and fire. This perform'd, 
their approach was check'd, and he made good his 
retreat. At the head of his gallant band, and not 
knowin which way tu find gineral Coffy, he forced his 
way thro' the inemies lines with the loss of sixty three 
of his men who were kill'd or taken. Captain Beal 
with equal bravery charged thro' the inemy, losin some 
men, and carrying oft* some prisoners. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 103 

This Battalion of the inemy, when the battle com- 
menced, had bin landed from the debarkin flotilla. — 
Hearin the firin they hasten'd on tu the assistance of 
their friends, com'd in behind Coftj, and thus engag'd 
Kurnels Dyer and Gibson. They then filed oflf tu the 
rite, and joined their friends, while Dyer and Captain 
Beal, not knowin where tu find Coffy, join'd the dra- 
goons under Kurnel Hinds for protection, they not 
bein able tu act from the numerous ditches ruhnin 
every way thro' the ground. 

The rapid increase of the Inglish army, arrivin eve- 
ry moment from the ships so as tu out-number the gine- 
ral's forces, made him change his resolution of com- 
mencin his attack in the mornin, for which he had sent 
for gineral CaroU's division. The giiieral guest pritty 
well that his men, resolute and brave as they were, 
had not the necessary tackicks tu resist the veterans of 
Wellington. His part was tu act on the defensive — 
tu halt him in his designs, and he tlierefore retired tu 
a narrow pass atween the swamp and the Missippi, 
about 400 yards wide, along which a deep canal had 
bein cut, which already formed a breast-work. This 
fortified place they instantly set tu work tu fortifv bet- 
ter. CaroU's brigade, bein fresh from town, was in- 
stantly set tu work. The idea of fortifyin this pass I 
am sorry didn't begin with the gineral. It was with 
one of the privates, and I hope he is now a good Jack- 
sonman and well paid for his puttin the nonce into the 
gineral's head, if the gineral hasn't bin tu selfish and 
engross'd alt the glory tu himself, which on such occa- 
sions shou'd be divided. 

All hands were now turn'd tu the makin a breast- 



104 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

work tu fite behind. It was evident the ginoral hadn^t 
any of the disciples of Pagan, Blondel, Vanhorn, 
Speitor, or Belidor tu help him. Now as the presi- 
dent has made a Major of me, vNhich is a high military 
officer, it is but rite, I shou'd know and proper, I 
shou'd talk upon fortifikations. I tell'd the gineral 
planely he didn't make that are battery accordin tu 
rule He axt me how it shou'd have bin made.— 
Why gineral, says I, you shou'd have had parallel- 
1st— 2d— 3d— you shou'd've had a place of arms, and 
bastions, and half moons, and horn-works, and Rave- 
lins, and flanks, and 'counter-guards, and covert ways, 
and approaches, and chee-vauK-de-frees, and demi- 
loons, and gabon, and gallerys, and salient angles and 
curtains, and lunettes, and a nation site of matters, none 
of which I didnt' hear a word about. But major, says 
the gineral, hadn't I cotton bags, and big guns, and men 
with big hearts and strong arms tu work 'em and 
didn't I give 'em are Inglish a nation good ramsquad- 
dlin from behind 'em. So you did, gineral-that is all 
tru You did the job for 'em quite as well as if you 
had all 'em are things, and Cohorn wou'd've risen from 
his earth-bath tu've helpt you. But mark gineral, na- 
ture did more for you than either De Sardi, or Mullen 
cou'd've done. Your cotton bags, the swamp the 
river, and the narrowness of the pass, and the bold and 
brave hearts-ginerab, had Wellington bin t.iere he 
wou'd've went home, like Packenham, in high spents, 
and left you victor! But Major, says the gineral, you 
will allow that there was some skill in selectin the spot 
and adoptin the means. It is true. Major, any man 
in any army wou'd've done the same, but no one in it 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 105 

cou'd've had the praise of doin it but myself, so that 
whoever contrives, or does the work, whatever means 
raaybeus'dor by whatsomever bravery or blunder a 
battle is won, the gineral gits the praise of all, and the 
people not only consine him tu immortality but think 
him intitled tu everlastin gratitude and any honer he 
may be ambitious enuflf tu aspire tu. Military merit, 
the least of all merits in a man, major, is the greatest 
in the eyes of the rabble. They are struck with deep 
impressions when readin of battles and bloodshed. No 
other impression so much attracts them. They talk of 
it tu their children^ they boast of the bravery of their 
own arms; of their neighbours,- of the heroes of their 
own state: and they think that the man v/ho leads 'em 
tu victory must be a demi-god, and be worship'd. I 
knew this well, major, and so became a military man. 
You, tu, major, may rise in the world by the same 
means. Had you bin a leetle more pisen, and lam- 
basted the Inglish afore they giv'd up, when I sent you 
tu Madawaska, nothin in nature cou'd've kept you 
from bein president. Now, you will have tu write 
my life, becase if you don't do this, the leetle ma- 
gician, who says it is honer enuff tu have serv'd me, 
will get ahead; and mind you, major, don't you put 
down oney thing in my life that isn't exactly strate, or 
I'll not recommend tu you. All that I've done I'm 
proud of, and you may freely rite, but nothin more, 
mind that. 

When the gineral found that the inemy was in his 
neighbourhood, and wou'dn't be put off without titin, 
he began in good earnest tu examine the premises and 
look closely intu the state of things. Fort St. Charles 



106 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

was not in fitin orders the guns wern't mounted so as 
tu be able tu pint at an inemy. Every thing wanted 
mendin,and so some ot the gentlemen volunteers becom'd 
ingineers for the first time in their lives and began tu 
mount the guns anew, prepare plat-forms for 'em tu 
run upon, and put 'em in order. 

No sooner was the plan of fortifying conceived than 
the work was set afoot. Fut tho' it amply sufficed for 
their purpose, it warn't jist made for a long siege, or 
tu promote the comfort and health of the men. The 
ground behind the rampart was dug away in a soft soil 
and where no way was left tu drain it off. This 
needn't 've bin done, becase the bank cou'd've bin 
rais'd high enuff without it, and kept the men healthy 
and dry. Besides, the gineral wasn't alwase prudent. 
He sent tu flat bottom'd empty boats adrift on the river 
in the nite tu try the vigilance of the flotilla on the 
water and the sentries on shore. The vessels on the riv- 
er, on hailin and gittin no answer, fir'd at and sunk 
'em. Now, this hadn't no other effect but tu make 
the men lose confidence in all around 'em, and be 
ready tu suspect all was treason and spite. This 
disperits brave men, and is certainly a bad experiment 
for a gineral. 

From the nite of the 23rd till the Srth the gineral 
and his men were as bissy as pipers fortifyin their 
line of defence, durin all which time he never slept. 

As I am soon tu tell about the terrible battle of the 
8th of Jane wary IS 15, the gineral, arter he had went 
tu bed got quite uneasy least I wou'd'nt put his glory 
in the place he wish'd, got up, com'd tu my study, and 
tell'd me, now major says he, I am anxious tu have 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 107 

my glory put high up that it may shine over this 
hull nation. So I will gineral says I, but wou'd'nt 
it be best tu get a leetle steam tu make the battle 
of the 8th as glorious as that of the 23rd? Isn't the 
glory dim'd by breast works? Isn't blood and carnage 
on both sides necessary tu make glory? Oh, says the 
gineral that's true, major, then tell it your own way, 
for if you raise it tu high it may be conceal'd by the 
vapour. The brest-works confines all the glory tu me. 
If I had beat the Inglish on the open field then the 
men wou'd've bin envious and wanted tu divide it. 
Now 1 have it all. Go on major, your own way. 

The loss of the gineral in the battle of the 23rd, was 
oney 24 killed, 115 woonded, and 74 made prisoners. 
This, when it is recollected that Kurnel's Dyer and 
Gibson lost sixty three men in killed and taken, while 
the inemy lost 7iot less than 400 in killed, woonded 
and prisoners, was doin a good bisness. I alwasc say 
no^/ess when I make a ruff guess, and dont know any 
thing about particklars. 

^ It was a lucky thing that nite happen'd tu come on 
jist when the battle begun. It is a consarnt good time 
tu maul an inemy. Men don't fear a danger they don't 
see; the inemy is cautious, becase they don't know 
how many of the inemy they have tu contend with; and 
it brings raw men intu practice at any odds agihst an 
inemy. The gineral's men retir'd from the battle 
well pleas'd. They had given them monkey's allow- 
ance, more kick's than cents, and had stopt their 
mummers from all future boastin. 

In this first battle many feats of bravery was dis- 
play'd. Liftenant Kemple, in the confusion of the bat- 



108 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE. ^ 

fie on the left, found himself at the head of a fist full of 
men, detached from his party, and in the midst ot 
the inemy. The hero, fearless of the peril tu which he 
was expos'd, demanded of a squad of red coats near him 
in an imperious tone where the regiment they belong'd 
tu was. They was lost like as he was, and cou'dn't 
tell. Supposin him one of their own officers, he or- 
der'd 'em tu march; they obey'd, and he led them tu 
his own line and they were taken prisoners. 

The inemy continued encamp'd on the field of the 
late contest. The gineral sent out his lite troops tu 
annoy their pickets. The reports of spies and diseas'd 
persons troubbled the gineral. He was ready at every 
pint, and the brave troops, encouraged by his presence 
were in the highest sperits. At this time the levee was 
cut in tu diiferent places, and the lands flooded, and 
fort St. Leon, after the guns were carried oiF or sunk, or- 
der'd tu bl abandon'd. Means were us'd tu prevent the 
Inglish from ascendin the Missippi, by erectin a fort 
at Pass Barrataria. In this undertakin Major Reynolds 
had associated with him Lafitte the celebrated pirate, 
but lately excused by the governor fromtakin a aose 
of neck-weed on the picture frame, the governor now 
takin out his pay in service tu keep off the inemy. 

The inemy wasn't all this time idle. On the morn- 
in of the 27th they had erected a battery, on which 
was mounted several heavy guns. They soon com- 
menced firin upon the Caroline, on the opposite shore. 
The Caroline cou'd not be forced up against the stream, 
and was unable tu get under way ^^il the Inglish bat 
tery had placed a red hot ball in her hold, which set 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 109 

it on fire. She had then tu be abandon'd, and she soon 
blew up. 

The Inglish now havin their forces and munitions 
collected, commenced their march towards the gineral's 
line of defence, commanded by Sir Edward Packen- 
ham. Early on the 28th their columns advanced tu 
storm the gineral's works. They halted at half a mile's 
distance, open'd afire with their heavy guns, congreeve 
rockets, bombshells, and all that they cou'd hurl at us 
They thou't tu make the brave boys from Kertuck and 
Tenesee take leg-bail, but they mist it consarntly. Not 
a man of 'em wou'd budge a peg. They were the rale 
grit, prime twigs, who were in good condition, and 
ready tu teach John Bull a lesson he hadn't dream't of 
in his reveries. Every shot made them grit their 
teeth, and sharpen their bayonets on the breech of the 
nearest guns. Arter the foe had amus'd 'em by their 
rockets and bombs, and the red coats were array'd in 
all the glitter and pomp of war, the gineral open'd his 
batteries and made 'em call a halt. 

Some navy guns of heavy caliber man'd by the officers 
and crew of the Caroline, bein mounted on the ramparts, 
begun tu play. The Louisiana sloop of war also open'd 
a broadside upon 'em. But the inemy, who coudn't 
nother make a breach nor silence the schooner, gave 
up the fite, and fell back tu their camp. They now 
tri'd hot shot on the Louisiana sloop of war with a 
heavy gun from the levee. In this work the gineral's bat- 
tery giv'd'em aterrible maulin,the sloop had but one man 
woonded and no other injury. Arter seven hours can- 
nonade they had 120 killed and woonded, and the gin- 
eral 9 killed and as many woonded. The inemy 



110 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

durin the day, had posted themselves behind a fence S 
short distance from the battery, and were doin the gine- 
ral considerable mischief. Tu drive 'em off Kurne! 
Henderson was sent out with 200 men, but mistook his 
orders, got intu a bad position, and a still worse one by 
bein shot with five of his men. The rest got safe back* 
On hearin the gineral's account of this, I look'd at 
him very hard. Gineral, says, I, how cou'd you let 
fences as bi est-works, remain so near your line of forti- 
fications? Had I bin there I wou'dVe had 'em are 
fences levell'd, and so left 'em expos'd. With fence 
rails so plenty, theyM material for protection, for lad- 
ders, Gabons, and galleries, and chee-vaux-de-frees, 
and all *em are things for stormin you. The gineral 
look'd a kinder thoughtful a minit; and said. Majors- 
major says he, jist let us— go a hed a leetle. So I 
Feed the gineral didn't like tu talk on this are malter. 
and I went on. 

The inemy now made a flank movement by the woods^ 
but on Coffy showin himself they jist marched back.— 
The spies and informers kept the inemy inform'd of ev- 
ery thing done by the gineral. While Coffy was ex- 
ecutin this order governor Clairborne sent tu the 
gineral tu know whether he did not intend tu proffer 
a surrender, as the legislater was secretly plannin the 
terms. Never did a lion roar as did now the gineral. 
He mite be heard a mile or tu. As soon as his forti- 
fication was over he sent the governor word tu watch 
the legislater, and as soon as they talked of capitulation 
tu place a guard on the door of their chamber. The 
governor didn't wait for the act of the legislater, but 
put a guard on the door at onct, thus preventin the 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. HI 

siverabers from meetin or forminany plans. The gineral 
intended, if drivin tu the extremity, tu have destroy'd 
the city, and establish'd himself higher up, tu cut aff 
all supplies, and thus have driven the inemy out of 
the country. 

That the legislater was operated upon by its fears is 
probable. But fear isn't alwase treason. Their inten- 
tion tu negociate for peace arose doubtless from the 
members havin considerable property, which if the gin- 
eral was beat he mite destroy, and if the inemy con- 
quer'd hy force^ they mite destroy. They saw no 
hopes from fitin, they wern't tond of blue pills, and as 
a matter of course were preparin tu take care of num- 
ber one. That there is treason coaceal'd in all places 
sitewated as New Orleans then was, is alwase the case^ 
but it is generally less than is supposed by the fearful 
on the one side, who magnify molehills; or than the 
powers that be wou'd often make believe on the other, 
for the sake of raisin their services tu as much conse- 
quence in public estimation as they can. The more 
they achieve, the more the honer is; and as they arc 
their own trumpeters, of course the bigger the danger 
the greater the victory and the glory. Tu ascribe 
treasonable motives tu a legislater, in a republican coun- 
ty, is no compliment tu the constitushion and laws; the 
man that does it deserves a barrel of tar and a bag of 
feathers gratis I My dander is up when I think it was 
ever done; and I am amost ready, sincere friend of 
the gineral as I am, tu cut with him for lettin his his- 
torian disgrace him by so mean an act. 

While every preparashion was made tu give the ine- 
my a ramshacklin that wou'd do 'era all their lifetimes, 



112 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

the want of arms was greatly felt. The city was put 
under contribution and every thin^ that cou'd fite or 
dig was collected. The youth was also transmugri- 
fi'd intu heroes, arm'd and register'd, and in spite of 
great talk of treason and many fears, things were gittin 
intu a pritty good condition. But when things were 
in forrardness, Kurnel Hinds trom Missippi, a gallant 
oflBcer of a brave core, havin bin sent out tu disposses 
the inemy of a lodgment, fell intu an ambuscade 
but rallyin be effected his object with the less of live 
men. 



CHAPTER XVII, 

The battle of the 9.d Janexvary. Gineral Fackenham 
Cqff'y's game keeper. The gineral Jinds the long and 
strong tug comin on improves his lines of defence. 
The Kentuck militia arrives. An anecdote. Gin- 
eral Lambert joins Packenham. 

The Inglish, encamp'd tu miles below the gineral, 
and in full view the plain bein level, foil'd as thej had 
bin, were preparin for a fresh attack. They were 
makin things as sure as possible tu force the gineral's 
lines, open a passage in his brest-works and let in 
their men by the gap. Thej had obtain-d the heaviest 
metal they cou'd get from their shippin, and prepar'd 
on the 1st Jauewary (1815) tu make a second trial. 

On the mornin of the 2d, a heavy fog hid 'em from 
the gineral, and favoured their desines. On the fog- 
curtin risin, they show'd considerable of a battery, 
mountin eighteen and twenty four pounders, at six 
hundred yards distance. Now the tug of war agin 
commenc'dj the balls and congreve rockets darken'd 
the hevens in their flite. Well was it the gineral had 
a mud bank afore him. Soon our guns vomited upon 
the inemy a hurrycane of iron, and rite quick, I tell 
ye, stopt their gab and upset their apple carts. The 

K 2 



114 MAJOR JACK DOWMNg's LIFE 

spies had tell'd the Inglish where the gineral's quarters 
hung out, and at this thej directed most of their fire. 
The spoonies must 've suppos'd the gineral took it 
easy while the foe was near, if they guest he rested 
long in his quarters in sich times. The gineral, pos- 
sess'd of a local ubiquity, was every where. His 
voice, like ten thousand lions in the Nubian desart, 
was heard above the rattlin thunder, and his men, 
nerv'd by his presence and courage, was more than 
a hero's. Soon his guns silenced the batteries of the 
inemies. Our ingineers, from their grate practice, 
judgment and science, beat the Inglish all holler, 
by noon had dismounted their guns, and by three 
o'clock compell'd 'em tu retire. They begin'd with 
confidence 'sposen the gineral didn't know^ B from 
broomstick in the science of war; but he learn'd 'em 
a lesson which '11 do John Bull tell he pays his nash- 
ional debt what it is tu try a tug with our rale ring- 
tale roarers from Kentuck and Tenesee. 

The inemy next tri'd tu penetrate by the way of 
the swamp, and turn the gineral's left flank; but here 
a dish of Cofty was prepar'd so hot for 'em that they 
cou'dn't swallow it, and they beg'd tu be excus'd. 
Gineral Cofty had an anluous task tu perform. His 
stashion was in the swamp. He cut down the brush 
wood for SO or 40 yards in front tu give his crackers 
a chance, and made a kinder fortificashion ot brush 
wood, with logs floatin in water tu stand upon and 
upon these his men had tu remain day and nite squat- 
ted like so many tarrapins sunnin 'emselves, all the 
time not knowin when the inemy wou'd say how'd'ye 
do. These men wou'd lie in their bushes, and as 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 115 

scon's a bloodj-back show'd his nob he was sure tu be 
sent tu Peg Trantums. They seem'd as happy as if 
they were at a frolic, and kept all the time jokin, 
callin Packenham their game keeper, and bettin on 
how many each wou'd bag in an hour when a herd of 
his bucks wou'd come athwart 'em. 

On this day thegineral lost eleven kill'd and twenty 
one woonded — the inemy wou'd never tell the gineral 
a bit about it, but tu their own secretary of foreign 
affairs they confess'd 78 lost. In the battle of the 
£d the inemies shot bor'd the gineral's brest-work 
quite thro'; the gineral thou't it wou'dn't 've done this; 
but tu prevent sich an unruly neighbour from comin so 
near, the gineral had the spades at work agin. Cotton 
bags were hauled down tu strengthen the embrasures. 
A Frenchman, on complainin that his bags were hauled 
off", the gineral call'd for a musket, order'd him intu 
the line tu defend the works and said that bein a man 
of property he had a rite tu fite for it, and must. 

At this time the Kentucky troops hadn't arrived, 
but were daily expected. The Inglish had retir'd 
onct agin tu their camp. The gineral had giv'd 'em a 
fine kittle of fish of it, but they warn't jist yet dish'd 
up; their time for that was near at hand if they'd 
oney have a leetle patience and not be tu fidgitty. 
They had now pritty considerable of an army, but was 
in expectashion of a daily increase. It was good for 
'em it warn't in July. Had it bin, the Kentuckians 
mite 've bin spar'd, as the gallinippers, had a waggon 
load of brickbats jist bein sent among 'em tu whet 
their bills upon, wou'd've settled the hash, and the 
gineral woud 've lost all the glory without a shot. 



116 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

As I am soon tu describe the fearful tug, it is pro- 
per tu give some idea of the plan of defence. The 
gineral had stashion'd his men behind a battery 
formed of earth, and runnin strait from the left side of 
the Missippi intu the swamp, as I've tell'd afore. In 
front of the counterscarp run a mill-race, now partly 
dry from the fallin ot the river. The glacis was but 
slitely inclin'd, owin tu the tenacity of the earth on 
the spot. The battery was lin'd amost all the way 
with guns 0^ different metals weight, and its embras- 
ures was protected by cotton bags, which serv'd the 
ingineers as gabions. The rampart was of sufficient 
height tu enable the men tu fire over it, but when 
chargin, tu be conceal'd. The site of the battery was 
sunk, from the level earth several inches. A slitely 
elevated parapet for the musqueteers was rudely form- 
ed. In advance of the battery close on the river was 
erected a redoubt, with embrasures comniandin the 
road along the levee, and flankin so as tu rake the 
ditch as well as the scarp in front. Behind this de- 
fence, tu miles, another line of battery was erected, 
for contingents, reserves, the unarm'd manipulators, 
who, when in danger, like Saul's army, had nother 
sword nor spear, but who was prepar'd, in case of 
defeat, tu flabagast the army and prevent all semblance 
of order in the scamper. Another battery was also 
erected on the rite bank of the river tu check any 
approach in that quarter, while governor Clairborne, at 
the bed of the Louisiana militia was stashion'd on 
the Chef Menteur road, a quarter from which sich 
danger was apprehended. 

The gineral in his second line of defence had so sta- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 117 

tion'd his cavalry, that in case of defeat they mite be 
prepar'd tu cover a retreat, till they cou'd rally behind 
the second line, and be thus prepar'd tu dispute the 
approach tu the city. Atween these tu lines no com- 
munication was held except by confidential officers. 
Thus were the tu armies hoisted before the glorious 
8th of Jinewary. The firing was seldom and harm- 
less in the interval, only jist as if tu say we're here and 
preparin for you. While thus remainin, the brave 
Kentuckians com'd up under gineral Thomas, but 
badly provided with arms. They hadn't even a corn 
stalk, which if in the hands of a rale Kentucic, wou'd 
've skeert an army as well's a battery of wooden guns 
from a merchant vessel display'd tu friten oft' pirates, 
and in their hands, wouM've done more execution 
among the inemy than the Fort erected some years ago 
by the minister of Spain tu our government, at Bristol 
on the Delaware, which was mounted with beautiful 
wooden cannon, and for which he charged his own 
government ^20,000. 

The force of the gineral now amounted tu about 
9,200 men; namely, New Orleans militia and volun- 
teers l,000j 7th and 44th regiments of reg'lars 700; 
Louisiana and Missippi militia and volunteers 1400; 
Commodore Patterson's saylors and mareens 150; 
Cofty's brigade Tenesee riflemen 1250; CaroU's 
brigade Tenesee militia 2500; and Thomas' brigade 
Kentucky militia 2200 — 9200 men, with some who 
volunteer'd, when compelVd tu defend their own cotton 
bags, besides the gineral. 

About this time the French populashion of New Or- 
leans who were oney half republicanis'd, but hadn't yet 



118 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

learnt the sperit of our republican usages, were thou't 
tu be peskily inclin'd tu the inemy. Some of 'em 
became partisans, most lay quiet, but a few were 
secretly murmurin treason aginst the gineral. Every 
one was tu bissy with important matters now tu mind 
'em, and so left 'em tu be dealt with as time and oc- 
cashion mite allow. 

The day afore the battle, one of the officers com'd 
up tu the gineral and begged leave tu give up his com- 
mission and go home, observin that his men call'd him 
puter foot, and made game of him, so that he cou'dn't 
stand rt any longer. Are you afear'd tu fite.^ said the 
gineral. No, please your worshipful Excellency, said 
the officer. Well then, said the gineral, you must re- 
main till we beat 'em are British, or till we are put 
where they will no more make game of us. They call 
me old hickory, and when this fite is over we'll have 
'em all up and coort marshal every skin on 'em — so 
go tu your post, and fite bravely. 

Informashion was now receiv'd by the gineral that 
gineral Lambert had arriv'd in the Inglish camp with 
considerable of a reinforcement. This the gineral had 
bin taught tu expect, and he concluded very properly 
that when these had join'd their comrades the struggle 
wou'd be hotter than in the former ones — in short, that 
the crisis was now come, and that it wou'd be neck or 
nothin with 'em. That numbers must kick the bucket 
in this clapperclawin was a ded sartinty. A deserter 
from the gineral's army found means tu elude the sen- 
tinels, and escap'd tu the Inglish camp. He tell'd the 
inemy every thing, where the gineral was strong, 
where weak, what was his forces, how they was arm'd 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 119 

and where tu attack. I guess, afore he had done, he 
heard the raven cry pork ! for his funeral. The gineral 
tu, had his cacklers. The inemj were found drainin the 
Missippi tu make a canal for passin boats, that they 
mite attack the gineral on the rite, left, and centre at 
onct. Gineral Morgan was commander of the fort on 
the rite bankj if this was gain'd our lines wou'd be 
flank'd, and prompt means taken tu prevent their 
plans. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The glorious battle of the Sth of Janewary, The gin- 
eraVs speech tu his men. The inemy get a nation 
peppenn. The inemy blown ski high, and compelled 
tu retreat. Sir E. Packenham and ginerals Gibbs, 
and Keane kilVd, and their 7nen smabbled. TJiey get 
leave tu bury their ded, and assist their ivoonded.— 
British loss in the battle. Lambert scrags the desert- 
er for tellin him the truth. 

I have now brou't my readers clean up tu the day 
when the gineral surrounded himself with sich a blaze 
of glory, as tu hide all the grate men in this nashion, 
as Merkry is hid in the glory of the sunbeams and 
can't often be seed. Jist as day lite com'd the gin- 
eral tak'd an ade-da-quong, and mounted the rampart 
with his glass, tu see what was passin on the field 

afore him. 

At this moment a rocket ascended from the swamp 
side of the Inglish, and another from the river side.— 
The different regiments began tu display 'emselves, 
and the hull army tu move forrard. In one place, the 
gineral seed the Bullites, every one with a cag-mag, a 
piece of cow's spouse, or an Essex lion in his wallet; 
in another was a regiment of Frog-landers; here, a 
battalion of Arra Nows, with a string of Munster plums 
in their pouches; while Sawney mangin half a yard 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 121 

of a haggis in his bag, was ambitious tu display his 
feathers. Behind was an array of huin-durgeons with 
fkces pale enuff tu lite the heros out of camp; while a 
regiment of moon-rakers from Wiltshire, station'd in 
the reserve, was beggin the commander tu let 'em 
share the honers of the day, glad withal of their sta- 
tion tu guard the camp. As they advanc'd the gineral 
cou'd tell the difterent nations by their appearance. — 
Every now and then the Arrah News with their fly-traps 
open, wou'd toss in a plum, and arter takin a touch of 
the creather tu wash it down, wou'd kiss Brown Bess, 
and tell their partners that afore their return Nel 
Fardin's sweethart wou'd be a widow, or gineral Jack- 
son, if his men warn't secure as hodmadod wou'd 
sleep on tother side New Orleans in spite of all the 
snub-divils in Italy. Each Inglish solder put an 
ounce of divil in his mouth, and begun fearless tu 
chew his cud; while the Scotch, grittin their teeth, and 
gutfounded in the hope of gittin a better dinner at a 
cheaper price in the city, were seen movin on silently, 
sulkily, and as bluf as bull-beef, resolvin that the hag- 
gis shou'd be kept tell other means shou'd fail. The 
gineral was amus'd, and tu^nin tu his aid, says, I'll 
disappint some of 'em are chaps afore sun down, or 
I'm not old hickory. On turnin he saw tu of his men 
takin a rale tussle, while their companions were laffin 
at the fun. He ordered the trumpeters tu sound tu 
arms! In a few minits every man was at his post 
like the snap of a steel trap. ''Now, my fine colts, 
said the gineral, your mettle will be tri'd. This day 
will show what freemen can do in defence of their tem- 
ples, homes, wives, and sweet harts I The inemy is 



122 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

afore youl Will any of you disorace yourselves, and 
let yo'ur names be spoken of in arter times, as cow- 
ards!— If em are fellers cross this rampart, give 'em 
plenty of cold iron in his beef. Give them are fidlam- 
bens who want Beauty and Booty as the reward of 
their havin tag'd as many of you as dont pike off, bul- 
lets for their prog; and let me see that you are jon- 
nok, when these shabharoons of England attack you. 
Havin made this speech, the men giv'd three cheers, 
and stood ready tu receive the word. 
"^ The redoubt on the levee was defended by a com- 
pany of the 7th regiment under Lieutenant Ross.— 
That part of the entrenchment next the river was de- 
fended by the regulars. Gineral Carol's Kentuck mi- 
litia stood next, and Coffy was on thergineral's^ex- 
treme left. Every hart was goin pit-a-pat, not with tear 
-there wasn't a bit of this in the line, but tu have 
one chance of ramshacklin the inemy who'd come tu 
fite for a croker a man. They warn't long in sus- 
pense. The Inglish ai^e main good fellows arter all in 
comin tu the scratch. But the gineral, an old cocker, 
who knew how tu tap the inemy's doodle sac^k was their 
man. On the nite of the 7th, the inemy establish d em- 
selves in the trenches they had afore occupied, with their 
heaviest guns. These, as soon as they had lite, open d 
irttotes with a roar that made the earth tremb^^e 
seven miles deep, but not a man of the ginera 
quak'd a bit. Atween the rockets makin day and the 
Sails makin nite, one wou'd think the last ju gm^n 
had come, and Gabriel had blown his trumpl The 
nemy pi^ssed forrard, commanded by Packenham 
Keane, and Gibbs. One division, the strongest, was 



124 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

directed aginst Carol, where they thou't the general 
was weakest, but I guess they were gammon'd pritty 
neatly that time, and found it a bite. The Kentucki- 
ans was the rale grit, and know'd how tu ribroast an in- 
emy as nice as oney on 'em. They com'd forrard in 
solid squares, of 60 or 70 deep, intendin tu deploy 
near the rampart; but the gineral roar'd out fire! firel 
and in a flash a tempest of iron and lead was poured 
upon 'em, as if ten thousand earthquakes were contend- 
in tu see which first wou'd swallow all natur. The ine- 
my who now cover'd the plain was battered down by hun- 
dreds. The hull line of the gineral's men behind the 
battery kept up a constant shower of hail ispon 'em 
from the parapet, as one line fir^d another was ready 
tu take their places, so that unless they were bullet 
proof ihey hadn't any chance of safety. The grate 
guns was serv'd in the best manner. Every man did 
his duty as if the safety of the hull nation and its li- 
berties depended on his exertions. The havoc was aw- 
fully terrible, but yet the inemy show'd a bravery wor- 
thy of a better cause. Like a sparrow escapin from a 
hawk tu the bosom of a traveller,so a number ot these men 
findin noplace better tu fly tu,lodg'd 'emselves in the 
ditch in front of the glacis, where they remain d tell the 
battle was eended, when they were taken prisoners.-- 
In a brief space of time the field was cover d with the 
dyinand the ded. The British lines coudn t with- 
stand the shock; they waverM, got confusd, coudn t 
fill up their ranks as fast as they were mow^d down 
quaiPd from the iron tempest assailin 'em, and fled. 
Gineral Packenham hastened forrard tu rally, inspire, 
encourage and animate 'em, buthetu fell, within speak-^ 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



12^ 



in distance of the gineral's line. Gibbs and Keane 
was no more fortenale, and gineral Lambert, bringin up 
the reserves, met the advancin columns scamperin bel- 
ter skelter, hurlv burly, so completely dish'd up and 
spfflicated, that Wellington himself cou'dn't have ral- 
lied 'em. They had gotten a taste of the gineral, 
I guess; half of 'em had bin knock'd off their pins, the 
rest were done up, so that all the surgeons in Christ- 
endom cou'dn't cobble 'em together agin. What warn't 
crash'd were fagg'd. It wou'd 've made your hart 
sick tu've seen so many of the brave boglanders in the 
dust. If I thou't the gineral wou'dn't know it, for it'd 
make him as rathy as a catamount if he'd find it out, 
I'd amost even now weep, when I think of the brave 
fellers takin their last leave of Judy and Kate, and 
their colcannon, and their murphies, and leavin this 
world jist becase like lion and loyal -harted men they 
thou't it rite tu fite the gineral, for havin bin bid, tho' 
they didn't know why, and hadn't a bit of hatred at 
him no more nor a parson upon a thanksgivin day. 

Foil'd as they were, the officers, fearin the disgrace 

attendin a failure, agin urged the men tu the charge. 

They cou'dn't for their lives deploy, for the hurrycane 
of shot pourin upon 'em in a constant stream, over- 
whelm'd, dum-founded, and bore 'em down tu their 
marrow bones, in spite of science or tackicks. 

Tu make any further attempt with the hope of suc- 
cess was evidently milkin the pigeon. In the first onset 
the officers fou't for their country; now they ax'd the 
men tu die for the honer of their pride and reputations. 
They had bin coker'd with the notion that the d — n 

Yankees were a parcel of clapperdogens, and wou'd 
L 2 



126 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

scamper at the first fire; but they found 'em unarm 'dy 
undrilled, tufter colts than the boastin monseers in 
Spain; thousands of their men, within an hour, had 
bin prepared for their eternity box; as many for Chel- 
sea hospital; a stash had bin put tu their hopes, and 
the holy lambs, who were lookin for Beauty and Boo- 
ty^* were happily disappinted, — rather becom'd prog 
for their inemies, or had tu retreat with their tales 
down like a new feagu'd boss. 

On the side next the river a powerful attack was 
made. A battalion led on by Major Rennie advanced 
with grate bravery upon the redoubt. While advancin. 
Commodore Patterson, from the rite bank, open'd his 
battery on 'em and squaddled 'em considerable. The 
Major, sword in hand, mounted the wall of the re- 
doubt. A ball thro' his hed popp'd him in a wink. — 
His men press'd forrard ; the gineral's riflemen, pop! 
pop! pop! brou't 'em down as quick as up. It was in 
vain they erected 'emselves on their pins upon the 
rampart. The rangers thou't it was rare sport; they 
oneymade targets for 'em, nor cou'd they get time tu 
finger a trigger, tell they got a pass tu peg trantums — 
a warnin tu any who may ever chance tu come that way 
agin. But nothin cou'd exceed the perseverin bravery 
of the inemy but the dedly aim of the gineral's rifles. 
They tumbled over the wall, and bolted in at the em- 
brasures. The riflemen fell back a leetle, but the pop! 



* I am glad tu say this repoit which wou'd 've bin so dis- 
reputable tu the character of British officers, was intirely 
unfounded, Jack Downing never believed it. He cou'd not 
believe so bad of an enemy, but especially of a BritisJi foe, 
whose officers are very generally high minded and honour- 
able men. It has bin officially contradicted. 



OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 127 

pop! went on as if they were at a shootin frolic on 
Sandy River. Captin Beal, and his men, soon made 
every man who didn't brush for life remain his life- 
time. Of those who gain'd the redoubt not a man was 
left tu tell his sorrows or weep over his sins. The whole 
army was now on the retreat, but they had the Dutch 
comfort of knowin that the storm was in their backs, 
and that they were seekin, as fast as their trapsticks 
cou'd carry 'em, a place of safety. This was the finale 
of the war. The inemy getted himself out of danger 
in quick time, and the gineral shone so brilliantly, that 
it turn'd the darkness amost intu day-lite, by innumera- 
ble bonfires, all the wav tu Downingville away down 
east in the State of Maine. 

It is rite I shou'd tell next what was done on 
tother side of the river As we didn't gain the day 
there, I shall say buc leetle on't. Kurnel Thornton 
with a large force, ascended the rite bank of the river, 
towards the fort and line of entrenchments under the 
command of gineral Morgan and Commodore Patter- 
son. The force was inadequate tu the defence — the 
men fou't and retreated, until the fortifi'd line was in 
their power. Patterson and the militia, arter spiking 
the guns they cou'dn't carry with 'em, retreated. Un- 
der all the circumstances the militia fou't bravely, and 
did 'emselves honer, tho' at that time, witliout any jist 
reason, or sufficient inquiry intu causes and effects, the 
gineral cast reproach upoa the brave men who yielded the 
contest. Thornton next day withdrew his men^ an ar- 
mistice for a day, tu give the combatants time tu 
bury their ded, was enter'd intu, and the inemy aban- 
don'd a field, where the laurels they had hoped tu en- 



128 MAJOR JACK DO-W king's LIFE 

wreath their brows with, was turned intu the dedly 
nite-shade, and they intrenched 'emselves within their 

camp. J 1 11 

1 he loss of the British in this desperate and dedly 
strife was 2600 men killed, woonded and prisoners, 
lumpin the estimate by the job, for the sake of accura- 
cy. Some accounts make it SOOO. This wou d enable 
every one of the gineral's army engag'd tu have killed 
his i^an; as he had only about that many operatives.— 
The gineral's loss was only 13 killed and a few woon- 

\ said somethin of a deserter, who inform'd the Brit- 
ish commander of the state, position and weakness of 
the crineral's army. The part he reported tu be weakest 
was^'that at which the Kentucky militia was station'd. 
The Kentuckians rowed 'em up salt river with a ven- 
geance. The jerrycummumblin they got on approach- 
in the screamers from Kentuck, made 'em think their 
informer intended tu deceive. He was call'd up; re- 
proach'd for double perfidy, first tu his colours for de- 
sertin, and next tu them, by false statements. He 
insisted that what he said was true-they wou dn t 
believe him, and in five minits he aton'd for his perfidy 
bva species of exaltation, which is the best traitors 
shou'd receive, and sich as thev alwase ment-a hempen 
collar and the dedly never green. He was suspended 
in %iew of the camp tu the limb of a tree, whde the 
gineral paid a compliment tu our militia, and at the 
same time giv'd other nations warnin nottu be tu hasty 
in medlin with our squirel hunters. 



CHAPTER XIX 

Attack on Fort St^ Philip. Beat off. The inemy 
leave our shores. T/ie gineral returns tu JVcw Or- 
leans. Te deum and Jubilee. The gineral incens\l 
tell his hed was flahagasted and he thouH himself 
more than man. Was crown'd. The case of Lou- 
aillier and Judge Hall. The gineral suspends the 
Habus Corpes, with his, bayonets. News of peace 
arrives. People got the Lock-jaw hoorain. The 
Habus Corpes explained. Judge Hcdl ascends the 
bench. The gineral sued, trihl and fin'd 1000 dol- 
lars for contempt of the civil power. 

The inemj hadn't yet made their final exit. They 
had expected a fleet up the river tu aid 'em, but they 
had tu fite without it. On the 11th at nite a heavy 
cannonadin was heard at Fort St. Pliilip, some distance 
down; the inemy made a furious attack, but still keep- 
in out of the reach of the gineral's guns. Arter con- 
tinuin the attack until the ITth, they sail'd away, and 
were seen no more. The officers of the Fort did their 
duty nobly, but lost nine men killed and woonded. 

The camp of the inemy bein tu miles below the 
gineral, he annoy'd 'em considerable with frequent 
visits of balls and bombs. Findin all their hopes blas- 
ted, gineral Lambert silently withdrew on the nite of 



130 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

the 18tli tu his shipping, leavin t.u the clemency of his 
brave conquerors, 80 of his solders tu severely woon- 
ded tu be remov'd. They had decamp'd by magic; 
it was fear'd they wou'd appear in some other quarter 
in a flash; but a letter from the commandier of the Brit- 
ish forces inform'd tlie gineral that all further opera- 
tions aginst New Orleans was for the jjresent sus- 
pended. 

The gineral havin made arrangements tu prevent sur- 
prize, or another invasion, martched his men from the 
battery intu the city. The joy of the people was ex- 
treme. He was every where hailed with acclamations, 
as their deliverer. The gineral recolloctin that the bat- 
tle was gained by the intervenshion of an Almighty pow- 
er, now had the 23rd appointed as»a day of prayer and 
thanksgivin. The Pageant was very splendid. While 
praise was offered tu the God of battles for grantin suc- 
cess tu our arms, it was burthen'd in its ascent tu the 
upper regions by the gaudy frippery and tinsell'd dec- 
orations and mummery, a service that seems tu have 
tu much splendour and show for the humble service 
of the hart, and which in Downingville wou'd be con- 
sider'd "vain oblations." It so happen'd, howsomever, 
that a grate mistake was made. Instead of praisin the 
God of battles, they turn'd their praise all tu the gin- 
eral, and while the censors were scattering incense 
the peals ascended from an organ, in deepasin. — 
" Jackbon all hail !" our country's bride and boast, 
Whose mind's a council, and his arms a host^; 
Welcome, blest chief! accept our grateful lays, 
Unbidden homage, and spontaneous praise," &c. 
If this wasn't buttering up the hero tu some purpose, 



OF GENERAL JACKSOJ^. 131 

giviri the praise intended for heaven a slantin direction, 
and by hocus pocus jugglery makin it pop intu the gin- 
eral's pocket, I don't know what tu call it. Howsom- 
ever he'ven onctand awhile seems tu let itself be cheat- 
ed of its rites by a sartin species of divil-catchers, for 
the use and behoof of grate men. 1 wonder if it wont 
some day or other bring these holy diddlers up tu the 
ring, and demand a settlement of old scores. The 
gineral wasn't a bit tu blame. Not bein a divine, he 
cou'dn't tell how (lir he shou'd go, where he shou'd stop, 
or when prevent fools from rushin in where angels 
fear'd tu tread, I swou the gineral had so much glo- 
ry about him jist then; he was rapt up in the elyseum 
of sich joy, was incens'd w^th so much praise, that he 
tell'd me he sometimes didn't know whether he was in 
the clouds, or on earth. But what was strange, as the 
gineral found arterwards, the men who chaunted can- 
ticles tu him in their highest key, was then secretly 
sowin discord in the city. They found his soft side 
and grope'd it tu purpose. One or tu rash fellers who, 
like the gineral, wou'd've their own way, and wou'dn't 
swing the censer tu him, found their mistake; the rest, 
seein how things work'd piously cri'd meet culpa, ex- 
claimin God is great, and the gineral is next tu him in 
the United States ! These censer-swingers so curious- 
ly manage'd things and so struck the gineral's fancy, 
that he took 'em intu pay from that day, and made 'em 
stipendary's for the remainder of his life. The gineral 
here tell'd me tu say, that in the church, the Reverend 
diocesan did ofter thanks tu heaven, ascrib'd all the 
victory tu him who, sittin on his lofty throne, moves ev- 
ery scene below; tu him who, when rulers are good, 



132 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's Lll'fi 

makes 'em wise, when wicked, flabagates their under- 
standing, and in their self-will'd notions brings mise- 
ry and distress upon the ruled. When the people, said 
he, forgettin tu give the glory tu the cause of good pour 
it upon the instrument^ and the instrument receives its 
with as much eagerness and readiness as if he was the 
cause, then like as he did tu Neb'nezar, he lowers 
their pride, turns their blessins intu a curse, and makes 
the people groan under the effects o^ their own dolus. 
But tho' the Reverend preacher did do so, the people 
wou'd have it their way, and the gineral now found 
himself fairly started in the course the konjurer had 
tell'd his mother so long afore. The Bishop linish'd by 
crownin the gineral with a wreath of laurel! Some 
folks have said that this crown infus'd the same sperit 
intu him that a similar one did intu Bonaparte when re- 
ceivia the honers of his'n academy as tell'd in his life; 
this I don't believe — the gineral is every inch of him a 
patriot. He was born in the very year the present Pa- 
cha of Egypt was, a year fruitful in grate men, as chron- 
icles may see, and if the fates have said that he shou'd 
be grate, and take po;\'er intu his hands, he isn't tu 
blame. He can't help it no more nor Maelzel's Turk 
when he sees a move made on his chessboard. 

The gineral havin fairly ramsquabbled his inemies, 
was peaceably enjoyin in his glory. 1 didn't tell in the 
rite place, that he had hang'd up the governor's author- 
ity for a while, and declar'd marshal law. This put 
all the governor's power intu h^s'n and his officer's 
hands. The power he oney us'd for the people, but 
when doin their work while they was plovvin, and tradin, 
and mindin their own bisness, it was but rite he 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 133 

shou'd'ye liberty tu do it in his own way, especially 
since he'd bin anointed and crown'd with laurels by 
the Primate of the diocese. The military law was, of 
course, kept up; the governor was still hangin up tu 
dry and be ready, and every thing went on as afore.— 
The legislater, that had bin stopt by the governor from 
makin laws, now assembled, and forgettin tu ask 
whether their laws or the gineral's was in force, begun 
their law-makin in the old manner. One of the mem- 
bers, Mr. Louaillier, spontinaciously published in a 
newspaper a complaint that the militia warn't jist in a 
comfortable place for their helth. Th'e gineral, 'spo- 
sin no one hadn't a rite tu say oney thing about it but 
himself, sent his solders and made him a prisoner. — 
His solders and his cannon serv'd him for all kinds of 
argument; and sav'd his hed a nation site of bothera- 
tion. Louaillier, supposin the civil laws mite now be 
in force, as the inemy was 300 miles distant and didn't 
like tu come near him a bit, got a Habus Corpes from 
Judge Hall,tu bring up the gineral and inquire intu his 
reasons for this imprisonment. The gineral apply 'd 
the same arguments tu Judge Hall, and swore by his 
laurel crown they shou'd both stay in prison a week for 
doubtin that he was intitled tu '< unbidden homage, 
and spontaneous praise," becase the people sung it. — 
The Legislater now took dudgeon, voted thanks tu 
the man who first suggested the battery, the men who 
built and who fou't behind it, but didn't say a word 
about the gineral, makin it a lump job. 

While these matters were goin on, news that peace 
had bin concluded at Ghent comM, anj put the gine- 
ral's law out of joint at a jump, and Judge Hall mount- 



134 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

ed his bench. The inemy had bin beaten from our 
shores, but it v/as necessary tu have inemies made, tir 
keep excitement alive and maintain authority in exis- 
tence. Tu do this, there's alwase enufF mischief ma- 
kers at hand. It was done by some one — the gineral 
wascompell'd still tu maintain power till his private in- 
emies were subdu'd; and soon treason and disaffection, 
in loud grumblin, was heard among the people and found 
among the troops. The gineral howsomever, hung on 
like a good feller till there warn't any more chance for 
fitin, but havin receiv'd a despatch from the War de- 
partment that a treaty ot peace was sined, and the 
President's proclamation " extendin pardon and for- 
giveness for past offences', he giv'd up, the civil power 
begun, the governor's commission was taken from the 
hook, the militia discharg'd, and all things put tu rites 
agin as afore. 

Judge Hall's turn now com'd. The gineral was tu be 
haul'd over the coals and tri'd for contempt of the civil 
authority, and for his arbitrary conduct. The gineral 
pleaded issue and prepared tu stand his trial. While the 
trial was pending the gineral who knew a thing or tu, 
chang'd his dress. Thou't he, if I appear,in coortdrest as 
a gineral, they will say I appeal froir. my services, and 
they will withhold their sympathies — if in the dress of a 
civilian, they will say, here is the man who is a hero 
in war and a citizen in peace, and I will be hoora'd, — 
This was consarn'd cute of the gineral. He exactly 
hit it. Had he appeared in his dress, not a word wou'd 
have bin utter'd. Now, the moment they seed him 
in the way they didn't expect, they hoora'd till they 
amost got the lock-jaw ! The judge and jury, 



r>F GENERAL JACKSON. 135 

wlio joined in the hoora, howsomever, finM the gineral 
one thousand dollars. When the judgment of the 
coort was announced the hoorain recommenced, the 
gineral was carried off, and the citizens rais'd the mon- 
ey for him, but he refus'd it, pajin his fine out of his 
own pocket -^ H^^^i*^* y^. 

Lest my readers will be at a loss tu know why the 
gineral was tin'd, I will here make a few short re- 
marks. The rite of Habus Corpes is one of the pe- 
culiar privileges of freemen. It is a writ from a judge 
of a coort, demandin a hearin in behalf of a person 
who supposes himself wrongful imprisoned, tu know 
why he may not be set at liberty. In times of trouble sus- 
picious or malignant persons may have any one they've a 
pick at, imprisoned. The Habus Corpes in France 
wou'd've rendered the Bastile null under the old re- 
zeem when power v/as the law; but by the laws of 
the United States, the power tu suspend, (I don't 
mean hang here, but put a stop tu the rite of its 
use) the Habus Corpes isconfin'd tu Congress alone. — 
Now, the gineral think'd he was congress when he 
suspended the habus. If he hadn't, I guess he 
wou'dn't've done it a bit. Some say he didn't under- 
stand the laws, and thou't becase he had power he'd 
use it; but the gineral wasn't oney a son of battlement 
but also a son of prattlement, and there wasn't a mis- 
take in the way of ignorance about him. All he did 
was for the good of the people. Next tu the grate su- 
preme, he was gratest in the United States, and con- 
gress hadn't no rite tu make laws tu thwart his views 
while doin the nation so much good. Those who said 
so he'd crop their ears off*, that be wou'd. Others thou't 



136 



that the conduct of the gineral, when the danger was 
over and every one wanted tu be glad, was like using 
a hatchet tu break an egg, and that he was desirous tu 
show he'd be like Julis Cezar or nothin, but they are 
all mistaken, the gineral knew that if he give up a bit 
of his power, he wou'd squinch his glory — and so he 
thou't while he had it he'd hold it, which is the milita- 
ry mode. 

Louaillier was brou't afore a coort marshal, charged 
under the same section the president wou'd've hang'd 
all the Hartford Convenshionists. Suspicions not be- 
in proof, and the gineral's resentment not bein law 
when marshal law wasn't in vogue, he was discharg'd. 



CHAPTER XX 

The six militia men tri^d and condemnhL 200 others 
trVd and condemn'^d tu be half shav\l, half starved, 
and drum\l out of camp, deflexions on the shootin 
of militia men. Sergeant Joel's opinions. His elo- 
quent arguments about shootin m,en unacquainted 
with discipline^ and its bad tendencies. My own 
reflexions on the subject. 

Mj readers will recollect, that when I made 'em 
loUer the gineral from Mobile tu New Orleans, he was 
jist on the point of tryin the six militia men. Much 
has bin said aginst the gineral for this act, but it is 
clear this bisness wasn't never understood. In no 
part ot his hull life has he bin more consistent, more 
like himself, or displaj'd more of his rale sperit. I 
can't never find out the reason why his zellus friends 
are so hoppin mad when they hear this part of his life 
tell'd, and take so much pains tu keep it from bcin 
know'd. The gineral thinks this deservin of minute 
explanashion, and begg'd me tu let all the nashion 
know it, as he hop'd every man in't wou'd buy a copy 
of my book. 

"When the gineral started from Mobile, he left a 
ngshion site deserters in prison tu be tri'd for muteny. 
The coort was compos'd of kurnel Perkins, President, 
M 2 



138 ' MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

Lieut. Robeson, Judge Advocate — members, Major 
Smart, Captin Blackmore, Captin McKay, and Liften- 
ent Boyd. 

The charges and specificashions were muteny, de- 
sertin, &c. The prisoners were ofl&cers, uncommis- 
sion'd otficers and privates, in all about 204 persons! 
The officers sentenced were dismissed the Service,hsi\m 
their swords broken over their heds. The men, six 
excepted, were chiefly sentenced tu lose half or third 
their pay, tu serve their time out, be half shaved, and 
drummed out of camp I Six of 'em were sentenced tu 

SUFFER DETH BY SHOOTIn! 

On the 22d of Jinewary, tu days arter the gineral 
arriv'd in New Orleans from the battle ground, at a 
time when he was in the midst of the glee and excite- 
ment occasion'd by the publick congratulashions and 
rejoicings on account of his victory, the Report of the 
proceedings and trials of the six militia men were 
placed afore him. The gineral, havin pour'd out the 
life blood of \\\^inemies so freely, it is suppos'd might 
on that account have spar'd his friends, I confess 
when I examin'd intu this bad bisness my dander was 
up,* I thou't it probable he'd bin gammon'd by his 
inemies who wanted tu make him out cruel and vin- 
dictive, so I went strate tu the gineral and ax'd him 
how 'twas. Major says he, I haint time tu tell you 
now, but jist go tu the War Department and they'll 
tell you all. for its^all there snug in the pigeon holes. 
I went and found the facts as stated. For a day or tu 
I cou'dn't think of nothin but the shootin of these 
men — of Harris who hadn't no hart tu face deth, but 
wept, and pleaded, and trembled, and beg'd time tu 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 139 

prepare, as he warn't ready, while his son stood weepin 
by him; and of the others, who were forc'd from their 
prison tell their doom with feelins of innocence, 
hopes of pardon, and "their country,'^'' dyin upon their 
tongues as they were sent out of this world! I tell ye, 
fellow citizens, I amost wept myself at the thou't of 
it, while writin. 

While thinkin it over, the followin thou'ts com'd 
thro' my mind. Mite not the jubilee have soften'd 
down the gineraPs severity at the time he sign'd this 
decree; or mite not his amost bloodless victory on his 
part 've made his feelins relent; or mite not the ap- 
proachin day of thanksgivin and praise for his success 
have caus'd him tu say enutt" blood has bin spilt; or 
mite not the thou't, that as .the God of battles was pro- 
pitious tu his arms by an intervension amost miracu- 
lous in throwin the shield of his protectin hand over 
tu preserve him and his men unscath'd in the hour of 
peril and of strife, when "a thousand fell at his side" 
and hewnliarm'd, have induc'd him tu return these 
men tu their belov'd families and homes as a thank 
ofFerin tu he'ven; or mite not the former bravery and 
companionship in peril of these men, when they had 
so gallantly thrown glory around the gineral in the 
Ingin wars, have atoned for delinquencies, for which, 
under circumstances, deth was a more than adequate 
retribushion, have caus'd him tu relent, — their anxie- 
ties also tu be with their families; their belief that 
they had faithfully discharg'd their responsibility tu 
the laws; the sanction of their officers who abetted 
them; the legal opinion of enlighten'd jurists in their 
favor; the governor admittin their claims by sendin a 



140 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

new levy tu take their place at the very time they 
return'd tu their homesj the probability of the war's 
bein ended; their voluntary return tu camp arter 
havin bin tell'd they mite get troubble for a premature 
departure fearless of consequences, all these thou'ts 
came runnin thro' my mind, and made me think the 
crime wasn't grate enuft'for the punishment, and that 
men whose bisness it is tu fite often hold human life tu 
cheap. These conclushions wou'd have bin tu me 
overwhelmin. They wou'd have touch'd my hart; 
have thrill'd the chord of my sympathies; have spoken 
in accents tu powerful tu be resisted; and in the 
gineral's place, I wou'd have said, — brave men are 
generous, heroes are merciful; the laurel about tu en- 
twine my brow shall not be stain'd with the blood of 
my companions; on the president, at least, shall fall 
the responsibility, for I'll not be anxiously grasp at an 
authority delegated oney in extreme cases tu another, 
and as he stands cool, calm, collected, and isn't mov'd 
by pashion or prejudice, he shall decide upon their des- 
teny; I will not be charg'd with the deth of men 
whom my own example in a constant resistance tu the 
laws, may have misled; I will not let the historian of 
my life and actions say I had these men shot for re- 
fusin tu aid me in breakin the laws and violatin the 
Constitushion; in this case, if my sceptre is not exten- 
ded in mercy, my sivord shall not be extended in anger. 
But I wasn't the gineral. He nother thou't of their 
past services, the president, clemency, heroism, ex- 
ample, sympathy or any thing else, but his own glory; 
and as glory is all the same, one letter bein blink'd, as 
gory, the gineral thou't that they were the same, and 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 141 

that we cou'dn't have any glory until we were gory I 
This is the meanin of glory all the world over. Who 
ever made out glory tu consist in clemency? or in 
magnanimity? or benevolence? or charity? or forgive- 
ness? or in sparin those in our power when we can 
crush 'em? or in savin life? or in dryin widow's sighs 
and orphans tears? The gineral knew pri tty well this 
wasn't the way tu git glory. He well knew sich deeds 
wou'dn't never gain Imn immortality; or that from 
'em he cou'dn't expect no incense, nor laurel crowns^ 
and so he sat rite down, and, without thinkin of any 
thing, as he telPd me, in the wide world but his grate- 
ness, risin like a volcano from the ocean, and makin 
all wonder and stare, he took up a pen and sined his 
name without ever examinin intu the matter — sup« 
posin his men who tri'd 'em knew it best. I thou't said 
he, these rascals mite as well be shot now as die agin, 
that knowin they wou'd die, they'd be quick tu get 
ready, that four days was long enough tu be thinkin 
about it; and that I mite as well, since my commishion 
giv'd me the power, do the work myself, and then 
folks wou'd know what power 1 possest. 

The six militia men were accordingly executed four 
days arter the order arriv'd in Mobile. It appears that 
in this case at least, a most cruel murder was committed ! 
Every man of the six, voluntarily returned from their 
homes tu the camp. They were all legally and fully 
entitled tu their discharge when they went home* 
Their lawful time had expir'd. A new levy tu take 
their places had bin order'd out in conformity with the 
law which releas'd 'em, on the very day they went 
home, (the 20th Sept.) as the law of Tenese^ req^uir'^ 



142 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

only three months service, unless the President shou'd 
say six, which he had not done. I wish the gineral 
hadn't dipt his hands in these men's blood. Sich 
cruelty is injurious tuthe service; as it discourages 
men from puttin 'emselves in the hands and at the 
mercy of officers who, for their own /jer^o^a/ pique, or 
tu answer their own designs, may wantonly expose 
their lives, and offer as an apology the power they 
possess tu do so. 

Not exactly sure whether my own feelins accorded 
with other military men on this subject, I ax'd Sargent 
Joel, when he was goin down tu Madawaska tu squad- 
die 'em are Inglish and release the prisoners, whether he 
wou'd like tu be shot by apintment while standin quiet- 
ly lookin on. Major says he, I and my men will fite 
for you when you bid us, and die when the inemy pleas- 
es, but we woudn't like tu stand and be shot for nothin. 
There is no sport in that. But, said I, Joel, you are 
a solder, and shou'd be us'd tu shootin in any way it 
comes without flinchin, as a part of your trade. You 
recollect the six militia men ^jest then they all star- 
ted from the log on which they sot, and Sargent Joel, 
bein foreman of the Jury, and who has nation good 
sense, says, major, that are bisness aint fit tu be 
talk'd over afore solders. It puts 'em in the meagrims 
at onct. It acts on their nerves as the mountin song 
does upon the Switz solder in foreign service. It 
makes 'em think that power deprives the poor solder 
of all his rites when he enters the ranks, and that if 
he seeks redress, or is even misled, he may be sacri- 
ficed. Every man in this nation knows now that those 
men were innocent— ^were murder'd, if you like the word 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. I4S 

better. In their condemnashion and deth they suiFer'd 
more than the guilty in all but their consciences. — 
They thou't of reputations they desired tu leave a leg- 
acy tu their posterity; they thou't of their families who 
wou'd suft'er from a kinder attainder which the stigma 
wou'd cast upon 'em on account of the ignominy of 
their dethsj they thou't of the injustice of their doomj 
they thou't upon the injury inflicted on their country 
by so flagrant an abuse of power; they thou't that in 
their deth they mite be number'd among transgressors, 
and tho' innocent suft'er as the guilty. Now, major, the 
guilty has no sich feelin; he's rather glad tu escape 
from a world in which he is morally ded, and in which 
he can never, if spared, without hidin himself from all 
who know him, raise for himself a name or character. 
Their cases are intirely different; their feelins are dif- 
ferent; the effects of their executions are different; for 
howsomever an arbitrary order tu execute the sentence 
of a coort marshal may be carried intu effect, the survi- 
vors will soon find out whether justice or vengeance 
has bin the cause, and act accordingly. It is well 
known, major, and I mention it as a fact in illustration 
of my sentiments, that arter the shootin of these are 
men, the desertions from the army was doubble, and 
the excitement and discontent tenfold ! Think you, 
if danger, hadn't bin near, that any on 'em wou'd 
have remain'd. The men love their country, and will 
be ever ready tu fite for it, but they will never wil- 
linly be hecter'd intu a blind submission tu unjust dic- 
tation. This isn't the character of freemen in partick- 
ular. In the case of the six militia men, we have an 
idea that it was done tu give vent, thro' bullet holes 



144 

made in their bodies, tu a large quantity of pent up 
wrath; that this wrath burn'd hot, and like Greek fire, 
coudn't be extinguish'd by water — blood must do it, 
becase the offence was personal. The nashion wasn't 
askin for their deths, for if the offence had bein aginst 
the nashion, the president wou'd've bin calPd upon tu 
exercise his discretion, as a thing properly belongin tu 
his department. I am, major, a friend tu the laws, and 
tu my country, and its constitushion. I will never en- 
courage defection from duty, but I may be allow'd, at 
this distance of time, tu say, that the act was mur- 
der when the president didn't do it, becase the offence 
wasn't aginst any existin law. Our officers may be 
ambitious of imitatin the usages of despotic countries. 
This is a country of laws, and the officer who forces a 
militiaman tu prison that had deserted, has no rite tu 
be the accuser, judge, and executioner himself. 

That we militia, ignorant as we are suppos'd tu be, 
understand our rites is sartin. This is a subject deep- 
ly interistin tu freemen, and a lesson which every man 
shou'd imprint on the minds of his children, becase it 
involves his interests, his happiness, and his liberties. — 
You well remember the case of Thomas McGraw, at 
Baltimore ',in 1814. He was tri'd and condemned tu 
be shot for neglect of duty and offerin violence tu Sar- 
gent Townsend on duty. The coort marshal was 
form'd by the direction of gineral Scott, an officer as 
good as he is brave, and as high minded as he is humane. 
Gineral Scott disapprov'd the sentence, becase he 
woudn't spill blood where it was unavoidable. He 
thou'ta militia man not tu be treated with the same se- 
vere discipline as a regular, he thou't McGraw had a 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 145 

family and friends; he wou'd not be instrumental in 
hurryin him intu eternity; he thou't the President of 
the United States shou'd decide his fate; tu him 
he sent the proceedins of the trial, arter respitin 
the time appinted for his executin, and then he solici- 
ted and obtained for him a pardon ! Sich a commander, 
major, solders will feel 'emselves safe under; they 
know they are safe under their orders, and that they 
will receive justice at their hands. The shout of joy 
which spontaneously burst from the assembled multi- 
tude who went tu witness McGraw's execution show'd 
what men feel at a humane act. It will form a strikin 
contrast tu the subject upon which we first commenc'd 
tu talk abou't, and let me say, will even- have the appro- 
bation of the good and the wise, while the execution of 
the six militia men now begin tu be regarded with uni- 
versal horror as the influence of the men thro' whom it 
was achiev'd ceased tu be felt. I am done, major, no 
more on this subject. 

This speech of Sergent Joel made my dander rise 
considerable. I thou't he intended tu insinewate the 
gineral as the cause of their desertin, and when 
made prisoners, of orderin their trial by men devoted 
tu his cause, and then of orderin their execution. I 
felt a kinder rathy for a spell, and tri'd Sergent Joel 
tu know if he dar'd tu insinewate any thing rong of 
the gineral; but the cute critter wou'dn't say a word on 
it, and arter considerin a spell I thou't it' d be best tu 
keep silent tu, for that it was a subject upon which 
the least said was soonest mended, and as there isn't 
any use in cryin for spilt milk, I will leave the hull 
facts, as a chronicler had out tu do, and let every 



146 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

party draw their own inference. It is true that grate 
men, like Absalom, alwase sin upon the house top that 
the people may see it, for the more pretence they make, 
the more they're believ'd sincere. The people wont 
support a man who isn't above the landmark of equity^ 
the majority hasn't an innate love for it; and they like 
any thing which encourages propensities in 'emselves 
which the laws and usages of society forces 'em tu 
repress. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

The gineral in difficulties with the civil power at New 
Orleans. The President rebukes him, and he goes 
tu the Hermitage, Collects friends around him. — 
The gineral a military Farmer. His period of ser- 
vice and expenses, The glory of a solder, its kind, 
quality, and nature. 

I am onct more in the field of progress, and tu con- 
tinue my story must carry my readers back tu New 
Orleans. The difficulties atween the gineral and the 
civil power was put an eend tu by a gentle hint from 
the President thro' his Secretary at war, in which he 
said he hoped tu receive sich explanations from the 
gineral as will reconcile his sense of public duty with a 
continuance of confidence, which he reposes in the gin- 
eral's judgment, discretion, aiid patriotism, and begs 
him tu cease all extraordinary exertion of military au- 
thority. The gineral, not havin any more opposition, 
and havin bin forbid by the President tu make war on 
the civil authorities, prepared tu return home, and be- 
come agin the farmer of Tenesee. 

It aint tu be understood here that the Farmer warn't 



148 

still the gineral ; that he giv'd up his commisshion, his 
paj, and his title. This wou'dn't be jist rite, for as tu 
the matter of farmin, I guess he didn't know much 
about it. He cou'dn't till the chronology of a cow 
by the rinkles on her horns; but as tu bosses, chickens 
and niggurs, he was up tu trap; and among the quid, 
nuncs of the stump, he knew the hull breed, — he cou'd 
transmografy a tory intu a republican by the flour- 
ish of his tooth pick, and convert a feller in a minit 
who wou-d break his finger in a posset intu a martinet 
of the drill, a cross-bite of the course, or a bell- 
swagger of the tavern. There was somethin magi- 
cal in the gineral; nothin cou'd withstand him. The 
people were all either his friends till deth, or his foes. 
The latter were rather made sich, from his inclination 
tu act on the maxim, " he that isn't for me is aginst 
me." Some were his friends from affection, some 
from interest, some from hope and some from fear.— ^ 
Nor wou'd he allow any half way measures. They 
must be devoted or they soon were sent a woolgather- 
in. He was a little tweagueish in his temper, and if 
any one was suspected of not bein fully in his interest 
I guess they soon found 'emselves in trib. 

Tho' the gineral continued tu remain on his farm he 
was retain'd in the United States service tell the year 
1821. His commission was dated June 8th 1814, 
and he continued tu draw his pay tell May 31, 1821, 
bein in service seven years wantin a few days. The 
gineral has bin alwase a friend tu economy, and re- 
form. The amount of salary he drew for upon the govern- 
ment was 49,014,28, or 7000 dollars a year; but five 
years of that he was a farmer, and attended his own 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 149 

bisuess. The first year closed the war with the Brit- 
ish; and the third with the Spanish authorities. The 
rest was spent at the Hermitage, in the enjoyment of 
his glory. 

I've now telPd you about the gineral as a lawyer, a 
a judge, and a gineral; I have seen him in the conven- 
shion of his own state, in the Sinnet of the United 
States, and in various employments. But of all the 
bisnesses I've seed him in, he didn't never seem in 
his proper ilement oney when he was ramshacklin 'em 
are Inglish or Ingins. He is a master hand at that — 
He warn't easy when he was quiet at the Hermitage. 
Farmin warn't the fun he lik'd. It wou'dn't never 
lead him tu glory. If all the glory he had ever reap'd 
from his labors, except what he got in fitin, was put 
together it wou'dn't lite him tu bed. There aint any 
glory got but in killin folks, and the gineral all the 
time he was at the Hermitage, was desperate afear'd 
his glory wou'd die out, and not leave a spark tu kin- 
dle with, if he didn't raise another row. He thou't 
he'd made provision enuft' for a new one in the treaty 
with the Creeks, by jist gougin 'em out of amost all 
their lands. He guess'd they'd be quiet tell they'd 
forgot him, and that when their treaty, obtain'd by dic- 
tation, wou'd be swallow'd down, it wou'dn't sit easy 
on their stomachs. Some day they'd toss it up agin, 
and that'd give him more glory. A lop-sided treaty 
is the best thing in the world tu create discontent; and 
as the Ingins warn't all smabbled, havin begg'd any 
conditions, and accepted whatsomever was proposed, 
it was but reasonable they wou'd rally, and unite oth- 
ers who might expect similar oppression from the 
N 2 



^50 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

white Christian when they'd a ehance, and desire veir- 
geance where thej felt rong. 

It is consarn'd nice tu see so many agree in my no- 
tions of glory. Uncle Josh has a proverb, sayin, the 
blood of the solder is the glory of the gtneral. This 
agrees like all natur with my notions of glory. That 
nation cute feller at siferin, Hezekiah Niles, tell'd me 
that at the Battle of Brandy wine the day afore he was 
born, a British grenadier, that he mite have the glory 
of killin tu rebels at onct, made a lounge with his bag- 
net at his mother, and wou'd have settled the hash with 
'em both, hadn't one of his companions giv'd the gren- 
adier a blow across the gob with his cheese-toaster at 
the moment, and Hezekiah has done his best since his 
mother tell'd him about it, tu make the nation indepen- 
dent of the Inglish by learnin it tu do its own bisness, 
and get all the profits of its labour tu itself. 

The gineral had a hawk's eye upon glory very ear- 
ly in life. AVhen he was first sent tu the sinnet, the 
thanks of that body was propos'd for General Wash- 
ington. Tne gineral didn't think Washington deserv'd 
glory, 'cause he had so many chances tu crash all his 
inemies, which he mist for fear the inemy wou'd crash 
ail his men. But as ''the star of Jackson's glory first 
emerged tu brightness from the clouds and darkness 
of the revolutionary tempests," jist as Pat openM the 
cellar door in the mornin tu let out the dark, so the gine- 
ral begin'd tu lay up a store of glory that when he'd enuff 
it mite burst out in a blaze, and so he'd no notion of giv- 
in any on it away tu an undeservin person who hadn't put 
all 'em are Inglish tu bed with a shovel, when he had 'em 
in his power. As the gineral wou'du't vote thanks tu 



OF GENERAL JACKSON, 151 

Washington, the sinnet did, for which he went hoppin 
mad, as every patriot ought tu, and resined his seat 
and went home. He wanted all the glory tii be laid 
up careful as a stock tu draw upon when he'd come tu 
claim it — and he vow'd tu be the deth of the sinnet 
one day or other, for dividin the glory, knowin by his 
horryskope that if it warn't squander'd foolish away, 
it'd come some day tu be his'n. The gineral is now 
makin the sinnet settle a few things on hand, and is 
goin tu tell 'em that he can do without 'em with the 
assistance of Martin, Amos and Blair. 

That grate beneficence and liberality is n't glory is 
sartin as dems trashion. Mr. Adams, that the gineral 
has jist turn'd out 'cause he didn't know how tu keep 
things strate in the government, giv'd 200 acres of 
land, rich in good sile and an everlastin quarry of 
stone in't, tu the people of . Quinsy, forever, and besides 
his grate and learn'd library of books. But no body 
didn't think this glory, nor did he git a bit of glory 
for't. I guess, had he got tu work, and rais'd a row, 
and set the folks a ramsquaddlin one another, his glo- 
ry wou'd've then begin'd tu shine. But he didn't, and 
now he's all in the dark, while the gineral will've himself 
all the glory there'll be in the country for a grate while tu 
come, tell 'em are fellers in Carolina begins tu nullifi- 
cashion it, and then it'll briten up, I guess. I intend 
tu make the gineral press the bank and the people 
pritty hard, 'cause I want tu catch a leetle glory tu, 
and if the people won't be quiet, we'll have a fine gig 
in makin 'em swallow down his Experiment^ and then 
we'll send in our bill as the Irish farrier did, " tu cur- 



152 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

in yourhoner's hoss that di'd." I swow we'll trans- 
mografy things nicely, when there'll be no Bank, no 
sinnet, and the people's representatives on our side, 
wheresomever we turn or whatsomever side we take. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

The gineral takes grate heroes or the emperor for his 
model. The Seminoles begin tu feel the pressure of 
the Fort Jackson Treaty and are discontented. They 
begin tu murder, and the Georgia militia are calVd 
out. They get on the field exactly ivhen their three 
months duty are out. The second levy do better, and 
file bravely. The Seminoles become formidable, and 
file cautiously. The gineral takes the field. Seal- 
pin, The gineral leaves the Ingins and invades 
Florida. Takes St. Marks, and with it Arbuthnot 
and n^mbrister, who are trihl and executed. Take 
possession of Pensacola and concludes the war. 

Havin show'd what glory is in its tru meanin I jist 
went tu the gineral tu read it tell him. The gineral 
laft rite out; why Major, says he,your pen has touch'd 
this glory bisness as if it bin sharp'd on one of Pack- 
ard's or Morgan's razor straps. It beats all natur 
how you tell things. I can't find out how you gues'd 
so trig tu a hare how I thou't on't. I'll tell you, 
Major, and I'm sure the people'll like it a nashion site 
better than oney thing else if you jist tell 'em its from 
me; — in my doins I like tu take the grate men of the 
day for my model; with a good deal of the president,. 
I like tu've a leetle of the Emperor. In all my hat-^ 



154 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

ties I've never been beat — 1 stand among the first 
gineral's of this are age, and there isn't any thing I've 
engag'd in since I gain'd the battle of New Orleans, 
but what I have shov/'d master skill in. Afore that 
time I cou'dn't perform any civil oflBce tu please me. 
The glory that surrounded me arter that fite burnt 
up all that spifflicated me when I went intu civil 
matters, and since that time I can tittup thro' it jist 
as if I'd bin born for't. I tell'd ye a spell ago. that 
fitin and gainin battles is the way tu make a grate 
gineral knowin in every thing, and now you see how 
'tis. The people says I'm consarn'd powerful in 
statesman bisness, and when I'm tri'd I find since 
that time all the grate men in the nashion, are out for 
me. Some say he's the devil's chaplain who preaches 
war, but I think he'll never be fit tu do more than 
shoulder brown bess who preaches peace. All the 
honers and understandin I ever cou'd lay claim tu 
com'd by the sword, and I'll praise the bridge that 
carries me safe over, whatsomever slang-whangers may 
say about the matter on tother side. 

I tell'd ye in another place that the gineral had 
made a treaty by dictation at Fort Jackson with the 
creeks arter he'd conquer'd 'em. The lands ceded in 
this treaty didn't all belong tu the creeks, but tu the 
Seminoles, Chocktaws, Cherokees, and other Tribes. 
The other tribes demanded that their boundaries wou'd 
be describ'd, intendin tu show that much of that ces- 
sion of land was not the property of the Creeks tu sine 
away, and but a few of the chiefs even of the Creeks 
was willin tu sine, or did so. They found the gineral 
determin'd tu make a treaty by dictation, and they 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 155 

agreed, as he must've land, tu give him most of their 
own and all their neighbour's. The other tribes 
wou'dn't agree tu this a bit. They was discontented^ 
and tu satisfy these discontents, and make all strate, 
the gineral was sent in September 1816 tu make the 
Chocktaw and Cherokee part of it notch with the 
Creek treaty of the year afore. In the Fort Jackson 
treaty of 1815 the Creeks alone were "in at the deth^" 
the others not likin tu be partners in the distribution 
of the gineral's blessins, ask'd and obtain'd a Treaty 
of their own. 

The Treaty of 1816 with the Chickasaw Ingins was 
a fair one. They were tu relinquish all land claim'd 
by 'em north of the Tenesee river, containin 10 millions 
of acres, and all their claims tu part of the Creek 
session of the year afore tu which they hadn't then 
agreed for S10,000 a year for eight years, and some 
presents. This throw'd intu Tenesee and Kentuck 
a valuable body of land, and clear'd the Ingins off* it 
from all future disputin. This Treaty was creditable 
tu both parties, and highly important tu the States 
named. 

The gineral now remain'd a bit restin himself, havin 
nothin tu do, but answer'd letters from all parts forrad- 
ed with presents of boots, hats, swords, medals, 
drinkin cups, walkin canes, hickory took-picks, and 
a raft of other nick-nackories> more than a feller cou'd 
count in a long spell. Next year, howsomever, the 
Ingins beginM tu throw oft* what they cou'dn't keep 
down of the Fort Jackson Treaty. In this they were 
aided by Woodbine, an Inglishman, who got among 
'em for trade, and findin it profitable humor'd 'em 



156 MAJOR JACK downing's life 

bv tellin that the IngUsh wou'd watch for their inter- 
ests and not let 'em be rong'd out of an acre of their 
land— that the Ghent Treaty binded the President 
tightly, and they'd see that it was kept strate, with a 
grate deal of sich like plasterin up. With the Ingins 
their is oney a step atween discontent and war. They 
was told how as they'd bin humbugg'd out of their 
lands, and that they shou'dn't let go any more of t; 
that the Inglish was their friends, and wou'd see em 
protected. As soon's they got dissatisfi'd they quarlt 
with their squattin neighbours. Then they com'd tu 
blows; the Ingins got smabbled; they took vengeance; 
and in a wink the war begin'd. The Ingins hav.n no 
iudges nor coorts, cou'dn't demand the white aggres- 
sors, so they went unharm'd. But the Senimoles 
warn't so safe. Their murderers was demanded, and 
refus'd, unless the whites who attack'd 'em was giv d 
un Thus matters stood, when the gineral begm d tu 
kindle up his glory and order'd gineral Gaines tu col- 
lect forces at Fort Scott, and order'd the governor of 
Georgia tu send him a battalion of riflemen and another 
of lite infantry on horseback tu assist, tu meet at Fort 
Hawkins. The murderers, play in hide and seek 
among 'em, the Ingins refus'd tu give up, expect.n an 
IngvJi agent in their nation tu settle the b.sness. They 
.aid the murder of the whites was in retaliation. The 
Creeks, in this war becom'd friendly with the gmeral, 
and ioin'dtu aid in the war aginst the Seminoles w.th 
600 iarriors. Gineral Gaines with 3000 men reg'lars 
militia and Ingins, now mov'd forrard ag.nst 2700 
S minoles, located within the limits of F or.da-- 
Gaines, on arrivia at Flint river sent a friendly mes- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 157 

sage tu the hostile Ingins, but they wou'dn't listen tii 
it. Major Twiggs with a small party then crossed. 
They fired upon him, and a battle foiler'd. The In- 
gins havin 4 kill'd, fled, without loss tu Twiggs. The 
Ingins had said tiie powers above and belozo had both 
commanded 'em tu defend their soil, and they'd do it. 
Major Tw^iggs was now sent tu the Ingin town tu twig 
'em, which he did pritty slick, smabblin several and 
inakin the rest skim it, quick time. The Ingins had 
bin deceived with tarradiddles by a few holy lambs 
from among the Inglish, who promis'd aid from the 
north and other places. 

At this time the war becom'd bloody, the scrimma- 
ges frequent, the deths many. Mcintosh with his 
friendly Creeks 1000 strong join'd Gaines. The 
murders was numerous^ 12 men from Fort Scott was 
kill'd, Lil'tenant Scott with 50 men was attack'd 12 
miles below Fort Scott,and six oney escaped by swim- 
min. Gineral Gaines sent major Muhlenbc^rg tu assist 
Scott with boats plank'd on side for protection havin 
port holes. These boats were attack'd by 1^00 In- 
gins, and arter a severe battle beat 'em' off with a small 
loss. 

At this time the gineral was bissy as a pip«r, gettin 
things redy tu ramsquaddle 'em. He call'd out 1000 
Teneseeans mounted. They was all engag'd for the 
war this time; the work was intended tu be cut short, tu 
save a deal of smabblin and botheration. The Geor- 
gians made gineral Glascock send a militia force tu 
the field, but afore they cou'd be brou't tu act their 
times of service was out. Another militia draft was 
made, and the snale trot speed they made was near 



158 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 

savin their bacons also from Ingin bullets afore they 
were brou't iiitu the field. A company of Kentuck 
volunteers join'd the gineral. The gineral sent 'em a 
speech, they giv'd a hoora, and ivent ahed. 

The Seminoles had now collected 4000 warriors 
and niggurs in a grate Swamp, which they had forti- 
fied and provisioned, havin put intu it all their squaws 
and papooses, and burnt up their towns. The gineral 
forbid letters from his army givin information of his 
movements. He wished tu move along mysteriously 
so that all things wou'd be done safe. The gineral 
had a thing in view which he wish'd tu do afore they 
wou'd know about it at home, as'll be seed bime by. 

About the 10th of March 1818 the gineral crossed 
over the Spanish side intu Florida. Mcintosh with 
1500 Creeks aidin him. His army was now oOOQ 
men Arter some skrimmagin in which a number was 
smabbled the gineral advanc'd and took possession ol 
St Mark's, a Spani^h Fort. The Spanyards did their 
fitin by a protest. At St. Mark^s, Arbuthnot was 
taken Ji^t about this time some gun boats was as- 
cendin the river St. Mark's. The gineral's men hmst 
an Inglish Flag; this decoy'd a squad of the Ingms on 
board wl» was all taken. Among these was a Chief, 
and their profet Francis. These were instantly made 
tu put on their Friday face and were put tu bed with 
a shovel tu save future mischief. . . ^. . 

The -ineral who is nation lucky in catchin his ine- 

mies na'ppin, besides Arbuthnot, got also Ambnster 

n^u his' clutches. These men, ^^VVOsn.^.e ^.n^X 

wou'dn't invade the Spanish dominions thou't them- 

Xt safe within the Spanish lines. They ^v.re 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 159 

mistaken. The gineral alwase does things like no- 
body else. Ambrister headed the niggurs, and in a 
skrimmage with 'em, arter half was kill'd was 
taken. Several severe battles in which the Ing-ins 
arter losin several hundred men, about 350 women and 
children, a vast many cattle, and havin their towns 
burnt, were glad tu hike off, or nock under. Jist 




about this time a partv of the gineral's men in pursuit 
of the inemy com'd upon a squad of Ingins murderin 
a white family. They had killM and scalp'd all but 
one, a beautiful girl about 16 years old, which one of 
the Ingins had jist commenc'd scalpin when the party 
com'd upon 'em. The Ingin had giv'd her a dread- 
ful cut tu take her scalp off when one of the Tenesee 



160 

riflemen took sure aim and shot him thro' the hart. 
The rest was mostly smabbled or taken. The young 
lady was taken tu a place of safety, her woond attend- 
ed tu, she got well, and arter blest the arms of the 
heroic and brave Teneseean who sav'd her life. 

As soon as the bisness of smabblin was over, the 
gineral order'd gineral Gaines tu try Arbuthnot and 
Armbrister by coort-marshal. The gineral alwase 
means by tryin, tu jist ax what they'd tu say why 
sentence of death mayn't be pass'd upon 'em. The 
evidence aginst these men was, that one was a British 
officer, and the other a pedlar of muskets and ammu- 
nition among the Ingins. The claims they set up in 
defence was that they were subjects of Great Britain, 
N\ere then in the service of a nation at war with the 
United States, and by the law of nations was intitled 
tu be treated as pris'ners of war. They denied the 
rite of any civil or military tribunal tu try 'em. But 
all woMn't do. The gineral wasn't a bit acquainted 
with the law of nations, but he knew he had enuft' of 
hemp and lead tu pay 'em with for promplin the war, 
and furnisldn the materials for it. The coort-marshal 
however didn't find evidence tu convict one on 'em, 
and they acquitted him, but the gineral, on seein their 
decision, jist sent it back and order'd 'em, instead of 
in7iocent tu say guilly; they did so, bein commanded 
by a superior officer, as all obedient solders shou'd, 
and he was order'd forthwith tu be shot. He met his 
fate like a brave man. The other was hang'd. Bein 
a gentleman he didn't like the ruif treatment of the 
executioner when tyin the rope round his neck. He 
didn't like tu die that way a bit, but the gineral 






OF GENERAL JACKSON. 161 

tell'd him tu be brave, for that there wasn't any 
help for 'em. That was his way, and he cou'dn*t 
help it. 

The gineral now muster'd all the men he cou'd 
spare and martsch'd strate tu Pensacola. On his way 
he was met by a threat from the Spanish governor, 
denouncin him for makin war upon his master, tell'd 
him he wou'd meet him if he advanced with deth and 
terror, and promis'd tu repel force by force, but I 
guess he didn't mean that. The gineral had visited 
him onct afore; arter whippin and takin all from him, 
the governor becom'd all at onct his rale friend. The 
gineral alwase made friends of those he quilted — arter 
they got in his fingers; then they becom'd incense- 
swingers, and soon the gineral took 'em iiitu favor; but 
this time the gineral said when he'd come agin he'd 
not spare: and nother did he, for he took possession, 
sent all the authorities home tu their master and put a 
governor over the place tu take care of it frr him. 
Now he'd no objection tu his men ritin home tu tell 
their friends all about it for the inemy was driv'd out, 
and he was conqueror. The militia were now sent 
home, and the gineral foller'd 'em as fast as he cou'd, 
the Seminoles havin bin squaddled till they was tired 
and ready for a peace by dictation like the Creeks. 

Much has bin said on the cause and progress of this 
war. The pious folks were offended becase the gine- 
ral didn't fite the Ingins in a civilization way. They 
thou't he'd've done better tu've not made the Ingins 
believe the christians were savages like 'emselves, and 
not have adopted their system of revenge, and decep- 
tion in the war. They wanted the gineral, while he 

O 2 



162 

chastis'd 'em, tu do it with all the forbearance he 
cou'd; tu give quarters, and teach the Ingins that 
white tnen warn't all as desperate wicked as the 
squatters on the border, and that thej cou'd be merci- 
ful in tlieir chastisements, and show a christian sperit 
while kill in on 'em. But the gineral knew a thing or 
tu better — there warn't no glory in doin kindness. 
The more was squ addled he knew there was the more 
land, and the more hooras for himj and then com'd 
the glory: then com'd plate, and silver hedded canes, 
and hats, and boots, and beef, and carriages, and a 
nation site of the good things of this life, which were 
all in token of profound submission tu him as a hero, 
and then'd come the consarn'd squabblin over the hull 
nation tu see who'd've the best chance tu swing the 
censor and raise him on a cloud as big as Jupiter on 
Olympus. This was somethin worth fitin for, and the 
man, who cou'dn't smabble his inemies he well knew 
cou'dn't get it. 

In the trials of Ambrister by a coort marshal, he 
was sentenced tu be shot^ but the coort reconsider'd 
the sentence, and condem'd him tu receive 50 stripes 
on his bare back, and he confin'd with a ball and chain 
for twelve calender months at hard labour. The min- 
eral, didn't like the glory of that, so he revoked the 
sentence and order'd him tu be shot next mornin and 
Arbuthnot tu be scragg'd, both sentences were prompt- 
ly put intu execution. 

That these men descrv'd their several fates is a 
truth that can't be disputed; but that they were ac- 
cordin tu the law of nations murder\l, is confidently 
asserted by men learn'd in the law. They will serve 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 163 

as a warnin tu otiiers not tu do mischief behind a 
screen, beoise that screen may not, tu those who in 
pursuit of justice overleap the law lines, serve 'em as 
a sure protection. Had they done exactly lite they 
wou'd've bin reveng'd by the blood and treasure of the 
Inglish nation. That nation, deep as it felt on this 
occasion, cou'dh't open its mouth in their behalf, and 
so the matter ended. That the unfortunate men were 
not at the discution of the coort-marshal for either trial 
or execution is a fact — they wou'd've bin prepar'd for 
a different defence had they known in whose hands 
they were, the peril they brav'd, and the tender mercies 
they'd ought tu expect from its derisionv 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The ginend receives the popular favor in marble statues, 
and his picture at New Orleans. His picture a 
Naches. He is commission'' d with governor Shelby 
fu make a treaty with the Chickasaw Junius. His cute 
managin tu get a separate private treaty for his 
friends. His defeat by Gov. Shelby. His attempt 
tu crop the ears off the Sinnet at Washington. 

The gineral's dem strations of Christian practice in 
the Seminole war, was foller'd by a nation site tokens 
of popular favor. The city of New Orleans voted 
50,000 dollars for a marble statue of him, and 1000 
dollars tu Mr.Earl, for his likeness. The city of Naches 
voted 1000 dollars for a similar paintin. He had rub- 
bed up his glory, by scarce leavin a Seminole be- 
hind, and as for the Spanish power in Florida, which 
at best was like the leetle eend of nothin whittled down 
tu a pint, he put it all intu the pocket of his unmen- 
tionables, havin shipped the governor and his men home 
till they wou'd be better qualifi'd tu protect their neu- 
tral relations with him. 

In the fall of 1818, the gineral was appointed with 
governor Shelby tu proceed tu and make a treaty with 
the Chickasaw nation, for a reservation of land. I 
guess the gineral was a master hand at makin treaties 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 165 

with Ingins. Gov. Shelby, his son, and acme friends 
set out with the gineral and his party from Nashvil 
about the middle of September. On the journey the 
gineral took a notion that as the sinnet had refus'd let- 
tin him have the three square miles giv'd by the Creeks 
as a present for ramshacklin 'em so well, he wouM jist 
see if he cou'dn't spifflicate the ivybush of Uncle Sam 
in sich way that he cou'dn't tell cheat from timothy. 
Now, says he tu himself, I'll work 'em, and they'll not 
know who did it. Ridin up tu governor Shelby, he 
ax'd him how high he was willin tu go for the Ingin 
boundary. Rather than not succeed I'd go tu SSOO,000 
said the governor, but I've no idea that half that sum 
will be required. The gineral rode on thinkin like 
pat's parrot, but didn't say never a word. The Ingins 
assembled at the treaty ground. The gineral's 
friends and the Ingins soon be com'd as thick as 
incle weavers, but their aim cou'dn't be yet dscover'd. 
Once the gineral and part of his company staid all 
nite in the Ingins huts, and it was discover'd that all 
the gineral's old rath and spite at the Ingins had left 
him in a jerk. His studied silence on the subject of 
his intimacy with the Ingins rais'd some suspicions that 
he was goin tu plant seed for a new war. The govern- 
or at last found out that he had bin in close confab with 
Colbert one of the principal chiefs. It was soon as- 
certain'd that some of the chiefs were violently op- 
pos'd tu the treaty or tu any sale of the land. This 
the gineral stated tu the governor. A council bein 
call'd, the Ingins urged that as the United States were 
largely in arrears tu 'em, they wou'dn't sell any till 
that was paid. A despatch was sent tu Nashvil for 



166 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

money tu pay it ; the money came, and the claim was 
satisfied. 

A second council was now called. The gineral be- 
comin foreman ot the jury, now address'd the chiefs — 

'' What do you ax for your land ?" 

Jngins. — " We don't know — what will you give r" 

The gineraK « We will give you $150,000." 

Ingins, *« We can't take it. 

The gineral. «' We will give you 8200,000." 

Ingins. '' No, we cannot take it." 

The gineral " We will give you $250,000." 

Ingins. " No, no." 

The gineral ' ' $500, 000. ' ' 

At this moment the governor left the table, and the 
council broke up. 

The gineral now tell'u the governor that the chiefs 
contended for the privilege of sellin a large track tu 
whom they pleas'd. The governor objected tu this 
proposition, sayin they mite sell it tu the king of 'em 
are Inglish that he click'd so nicely at New Orleans. 
The gineral repli'd that a company of gentlemen were 
on the ground who would pay 'em their price, 20,000 
dollars. To this Gov. Shelby positively refus'd ; he 
said the Ingins shou'dn't sell lands tu private indivi- 
duals, insistin that the government shou'd have the 
rite of choice ; that they were commission'd tu sustain 
the government and not private individuals. The gi- 
neral and the Ingins were obliged tu agree, or do no- 
thin. 

The governor now told the gineral that he hadn't 
ouglit tu offer so high a piece. *'Why governor, 
d n it, did not you say that you wou'd give 300,000 



OF GliNERAL JACKSOK. 167 

dollars? said the gineral. «*No, sir," said the go- 
vernor, " I gave you no authority tu speak for me ; I 
am heretu speak for myself." " Why governor, G— 

d n my soul* if you didn't say so.'' *'I did not 

authorize you tu make any sich proposition." The 
parties waxin roth and threatenin blows were separated. 
They preserv'd silence till the next day when they 
agin met for bisness. The gineral broke out in a rale 
tantrum upon the governor, ruff, noisy, and threat- 
enin. The friends of the parties now interfered, Ma- 
jor Smith ax*d leave tu be moderator, and they was 
kept apart. The governor now said he shou'd go home. 
"Go, governor," said the gineral, '' by G — I will 
make the treaty without you.'* While the governor 
and party were saddlin their bosses tu start, they 
was persuaded tu remain. A. new council was 
form'd, the Ingins demanded 300,000 dollars, and it 
was at last agreed tu. The governor said, that the 
gineral, from an anxiety tu make a speckulation for 
private individuals, cost the government from 100,000 
dollars tu 200,000 dollars! The guess of the go- 
vernor was, that by allowin 'em a Ugh price for the 
public treaty, they wou'd, by collusion accept a small 
price for the lands in private treaty ; (he private treaty 
reservation bein the choice part of the Ingin's territory. 
Well now, I don't see as how the gineral is so much 
tu blame arter all. Avarice is a disease of the mind 
as the measles is a desease of the body. The gineral 



* In giving this dialogue literally as it occurr'd, Jack 
Downing is n't tu be understood as approvin of swearin. He 
despises the practice as bein vulgar and wicked. 



1^8 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFK 

is by natur selfish— hadn't he bin so, he'd now 've as 

leetle glory as any on us. Glory can't be obtain'd 

withoJt a deal of fitin and blood, but tho' the men do 

all the fitin, he gets the glory by wholesale and they 

by retail. Every solder has tu blow his own trumpet 

when he wants a ray of glory, but if the officers and 

men don't all put their lungs intu the tube of one 

trumpet and make the earth fairly tremble with the 

blast of 't, the gineral who wants the glory will take 

care tu make 'eoi food for glory next time the inemy 

comes athwart 'em. Now, gittin lands and specklatin 

is a great temptation tu those us'd tu it ; and when one 

has tlie notion that he is popular enuff; when he abets a 

scheme of the kind alluded tu above tu carry it along, 

how easy it is for himself and his friends tu feather 

their nests amost at the public expense. Had gov- 

ernor Shelbv consented, the gineral's friends mite 've 

obtain'd a track equal tu a German principality for 

amost a song, and the i.ation 've bin leetle the wiser, 

and not a bit the worse, if that are Sinnet wou'd've 

thou't so. 

The gineral was variously employed during the year 
1819, but I haven't time tu rite upon more than a few 
of the more important ones. In winter of 1818 and 
1819 the Seminole war and invasion of Florida ques- 
tion com'd up in Congress. Some of the members 
treated him with their gloves off', in pritty ruff style, I 
tell ye ; and warn't very pernickity about the severity 
of their languidge nother. The gineral had friends, 
who sent him word when the alarm was sounded that 
he mite be prepar'd tu defend himself. Like the snap 
of a steel trap he was on his way tu Washington, and 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 169 

soon arriv'd there. His friends, no doubt tu currj 
favour, for tiieir are spaniels enuff of this kind, had 
made the story look as blue as possible: and so the gine- 
ral was considerable chaf'd, and threaten'd fearful. 
The president, hearin he was in the tantrims and 
foamin with rage, sent his brother tu see, calm, advise, 
and induce him tu respect the constituted authorities. 
Ina leetle time thegineral was quiet ; but Mr. Lacock 
makin his report tu the Sinnet on the Seminole Corn- 
pane, the gineral receiv'd it at a public dinner table in 
Baltimore, and jumpt rite up, sajin he was wanted at 
Washington tu chastise some on 'em are Sinneters for 
their insolence, and especially Mr. Eppes, whose castin 
vote brou't it afore the Sinnet. In a giffy he was on 
his way tu Washington and arrived at day lite, travel- 
lin all nite. Sendin for his aids, he repaired tu the vici- 
nity of the Sinnet room. About the same time as the 
gineral Commodore Decatur arriv'd, and bavin his 
wife in the lobby withdrew tu the outer passage where 
thegineral was as rip-roarious as a baited bull, Deca- 
tur seein his agitation and hearin his threats axed Mr. 
Kemper tu dissuade the gineral from his purpose. 
Kemper wou'd n't 5 and expressin his concurrence in 
the design of the gineral tu cornubble every rascally 
member who wou'd question his conduct, or examin 
it. Decatur then axed the gineral if he really intended 
violence on any of the people's representatives. I am 
a democrat, said Decatur, and i\\Q people^ s representa- 
tives in Congress shou'd be left tu the immolested dis- 
charge of their duties. I want tu know whether you have 
ralley utter'd the threats the folks say you have. The 
gineral answer'd yes ', and with an oath said he was 



170 

aetermin'd tu stash their proceedins against him, or 
ribroast with his hickory tooth-pick every d d ras- 
cal on 'em jist as they sit in the Sinnet. Decatur tri'd 
tu persuade him from his intent, sayin that if he did, 
his inemies wou'd be glad of it, and use it against him. 
The general said he wou'd n't jist scalp 'em rascals, 
but he'd crop tlieir ears off, and hang 'em up as a 
warnin tu others who mite examin his doins. Decatur 
exerted his besttu dissuade him, and at last succeeded, 
but not tell arter he'd skeert Lacock, Eppes, and 
others consarntly, and made them get arms tu protect 
their ears. 

In this are bisness the gineral was amost tu fast. 
The democracy of the country is always for a govern- 
ment by representatives. Thro' these they have their 
grievances redress'd, and laws for the general good of 
society formed. These are the rale protectors of the 
people's liberties. Tu check the rites of the people's 
representatives in Congress, or curtail the liberty of 
speech, or of the ;5re5s, would be fatal tu freedom. The 
glory ot our victories wou'd be of no use without these. 
We mite as well be under one tyrant as another, if 
the people arn't tu be hi^ard thro' a popular legislater. 
It is fortenate that no one is above the laws or public 
opinion, for imperious rulers and bears often worry 
their keepers, and a despot in fermentation throws up 
a crate site of scum, which floats on the surface and 
bears with weight upon all beneath it that is good. The 
people can be heard thro' the men they elect, but if a 
despot says no, who will draw the sword tu oppose him ? 
This is rebellion, and the party who do so must flmg 
away the scabbard, and make up his mind at onct t« 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 171 

die if he is n't victorious. In the case of the gineral 
and the Sinnet, it will be remember'd he had long 
vow'd its deth, and has alwase waged war with it. 
The gineral never forgives, but jist puts up his rath in 
a warm place, tell he can bring it out for use, and he has 
the nack of keepin it fresh for all occashions. I do sin- 
cerely regret, and so does' the gineral, that he talked 
of croppin the Sinneters, 'cause they'd be a curis lookin 
company when collected all together without ears. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The gineral quads uith Crawford secretary at ivar, 
Quarts with gineral Scott, for not sayin he luas rite 
in all he did. Has a quarl with the Legislater oj 
Tenesee about Banks and bills of credit. Insults 
'em and makes 'em swoller their oaths of office. The 
gineral is sent tu Florida tu receive it from the hands 
of the Spanish and then govern it. Quarls with Cat- 
lava, with all the Spanish officers, and with Judge 
Fromentin Suspends the Ilahus Corpes on his 
bagnets. Imprisons Spanish citizens who come 
from Havana for their families. Conversation afween 
me and the gineral. 

In the year 1817, James ISIonroe was augurated 
President. A correspondence was held atween the 
aineral and the president, in which the gineral recom- 
mended tu reconcile all parties in the nashion by ap- 
pintin a cabinet that woud'n't be oney but a half 
breed or mungrel one, so as tu please both sides. Craw- 
ford, 'secretary at war, be hated, and soon took occa- 
sion tu insult him by a general order which wasn't ve- 
ry nice about givin him a reprimand. This produced 
a controversy atween the gineral and gineral Scott, m 
a long correspondence. The gineral forrarded tu 
Scott a newspaper with a squirt at him about his order, 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 173 

tu know whether he (Scott) rit it. Scott hadn't, but 
admitted sajin that it was, as tu the future, mutinous 
in its tendency. The gineral replied that he took Ma- 
jor gineral Scott for a gentleman, and rit tu him as 
sich, but he mistook, his languidge was insolent, he de- 
served contempt, that he was ignorant of the obligations 
and duties which honer impose, and is past learnin. 

This kind of politeness run thro' a long letter. The 
gineral insinewated that Scott was one of the pimps 
and spies of the war department, an intermeddler, a 
hector, a bully, a backbiter and slanderer, and that 
his brest was filled with base and guilty passions. That 
the gineral had the best of the abuse partis sartin,— of 
course of the argument. Gineral Scott woud'n't foller 
his example by givin railin for railin, but in a very gen- 
tlemanly way and in severe but smooth words re- 
plied. He thou't that the gineral was spoil'd by suc- 
cess and applause, but declin'd any exchange of abuse. 
The gineral by this time had got his rath pritty high, 
and he didn't like tu let it off except, like one of his own 
pistols, with a bullet. He com'd on from Tenesee tu 
fite Scott, but gineral Scott didn't think his commission 
was giv'd him tu fite his brother officers, and begged 
time till. the next war tu show his courage, Gineral 
Scott, in this, show'd a good sperit, and the gineral 
went home till he'd get some other chance tu let off his 
rath, which, as he hated tu keep it in, bein alwase ready 
tu get rid of sich an unruly companion, was nashion 
troublesome tu him. 

The next leadin act of the gineral was his attempt 
tu make the legislater of Tenesee swaller their own 
oaths of office, in a memorial tu the house of Repre- 
P 2 



174 :major jack dowmng*s life 

sentatives of that state on the subject of the Tenesee 
Bank and Relief law. A bill tu charter a Bank at 
Murfreesburg with sartin powers was afore the gineral 
assembly. The gineral and others sent in a remon- 
strance tu the bi.l, in which he said the bill established 
a loan office, in violation of art. 10. Sec. 1. of the 
Federal Constitushion which forbids coinin of money 
or the emission of bills of credit, or any thing but gold 
and silver a legal tender for the payment of debts. — 
The notes are designed tu be issued are bills of credit, 
said the gineral, becase they are made tu represint prop- 
erty, and whatever represints property must be bills of 
credit, or specie I Bank notes must then be a bill of cred- 
it. These notes said the gineral, are tu be emitted on the 
cj edit and security of the borrowers guaranteed by the 
sales of unappropriated lands in the state, and will be re- 
deemable with dollars ! The gineral next quoted in the 
remonstrance the oath of office of the members, begg'il 
'emtu read it, said their responsibility was a high and 
awful one, and, (as was said in the house,) had declared 
out of doors that the members might hear it in doors, 
that any menjber who voted and issued notes was per- 
jured, and that twelve honest jurors wou'd convict 'em 
of perjury. The remonstrance was thrown out and the 
Bank bill passed both houses, and became a law. 

In the beginnin of 1819, the government and Don 
Onis, the Spanish minister made a treaty for the cession 
of Florida tu the United States. Congress also passed 
a law for puttin tilings strate there in the govern- 
ment way. The treaty was confirm'd in October 1820 
by Spain, and in February 1821 by Congress. 

By the law the officers and solders of Spain were tu 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 175 

be remov'd, and the Spanish citizens tu be protected 
in their rites, and property, and religion. 

The gineral was now giv'd three commissions, one 
tu take possession — one tu govern — and one tu carry 
the treaty bargains in tu effect. Kurnel Forbes was tu 
receive the achieves and public documents belongin tu 
Florida, and also orders tu receive the Floridas from 
the governor of Cuba, tu which place he was tu go for 
'em. E. Fromentin was appointed Judge of all west 
and part of East Florida &c. 

When the^gineral was apprised of his appintment, 
he set out in April with Captin Call, and Doctor Bro- 
naugh as surgeon gineral. 

At New Orleans findin his quarter master hadn't 
funds tu carry his object intu effect, nother authority 
tu draw, he said he wou'd take upon him the responsi- 
bility tu do it. He accordinly appli'd tu the Branch 
Bank of the United States for 10 or 12,000 dollars, 
but was refus'd. A considerable rathy, he next ap- 
pli'd tu the collector of the port, who also refus'd.— 
The Cashier cou'dn't, 'cause his '' instructions forbid 
his dealin in drafts." The Collector cou'dn't 'cause 
the Secretary of the Treasury had sent him no instruc- 
tions. The gineral who cou'd'nt get no one willin tu vio- 
late their instructions, and was thereby prevented from 
it himself, was in a foam. He then and there vowed 
that he wou'd be the deth of the Bank, as he had de- 
clar'd he'd be of the Sinnetj but as the customs are ne- 
cessary tu get money and he forgiv'd that. 

On demandin Florida from Governor Callava, he re- 
fus'd givin it up tell he had orders from Havana. 

The delay of Forbes made the gineral suspect the 



176 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

merchants had entered intu a trick tu get goods^in afore 
the Custom House was establish'd. The gineral was 
now preparin tu let loose his long pent up rath. He 
didn't like Callava — he thou't he wou'd make difficul- 
ties — and other surmises occupied his mind. The gin- 
eral's hand begin'd tu tremble — when he lifted his 
soup he splash'd himself — all went rong with him, and 
he beat himself intu a sweet preparashion for his duties. 
Forbes not comin as soon as was expected, the gineral 
propos'd tu the Secretary of State, tu take possession 
by force, provided he wouldn't come soon enuft'. In 
July, Forbes arriv'd — the Territory was given up, 
and his duty as governor begin'd. In his first law, he 
appints a mayor, aldermen, the christian sabbath, the 
assessments &c. Upon an aflfadavit that papers of 
importance for the proof of certain property, w^as goin 
tu be carried out of the country, and were in the 
hands of certain individuals they were demanded, but 
havin bin refus'd,a party of solders with their officer was 
sent with order tu demand 'em by force. The house of 
Callava was instantly beset. The papers agin demand- 
ed; agin refus'd — but the party entered, procured lights, 
and tlie inmates were made prisoners and brou't tu the 
gineral. The papers were reported at the house of 
Callava, when the military, at the hour of 12 o'clock 
at night were sent back tu open and search the boxes 
and papers of Kurnel Callava in his house. It was 
done — the documents obtain'd, and the parties dis- 
charg'd. One of the parties in the presence of the 
governor attempted tu draw up a protest. The giner- 
al thumpthis fist on the table, and said he wou^vvi per- 
mit it, nor wou'dn't allow *em tu translate the Spanish 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 177 

intu Inglish lest he mite say what was unpleasant tu 
hear. The gineral thou't it wasn't any use tu play the 
o-intleman or be coorteis when he had solders at com- 
mand. The president he thou't knew his way, and 
approv'd it by givin him his commission, and of course 
he was authoriz'd he thou't tu hector and dragoon as 
a short cut tu bisness. 

The Spanish military officers havin bin sent oft* by a 
public conveyance at short notice tu quit, left their 
families behind 'em. They then left their commissions 
in Havana, and returnM as private citizens for their fam- 
ilies. As soon as they landed they was arrested and 
imprisoned. They pleaded that they had obeyed the 
laws and returned as private men for their families 
tu bring 'em out of the country. The wife of one 
these men was dangerous ill, and he petition'd Con- 
crress for a release from an illegal confinement. Con- 
gress discuss'd the subject, and arter censunn the 
gineral, did nothin. 

The difficulties of the gineral with Callava involv d 
him with some of his own administrators. Judge Fro- 
mentin issued a writ of Habus Corpes tu have Callava 
brou't afore him. The gineral suspended the Habus, 
accordin tu his interpretation of the Constitution, and 
forbid the investigation. The Judge, tho' ''sworn tu 
execute and fulfil his duties accordin tu the constitu- 
tion and la.ws of the United ^States," took a sudden 
a-er fit on hem cited afore Governor Jackson, and 
cou'dn't come. But he did at last appear, and re- 
ceiv'd sich a lecture from the gineral, upon how he ought 
tu understand and explain law as tu cure him of bem 
pernickety about trifles. The gineral was tu give him 



ITS MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

a pair of specks tu see the constitution with. But a 
rumor that the Judge had made an humble apology tu 
the gineral, made the Judge ask of the gineral a deni- 
al. The gineral was astonish'd said he had made an 
apology for issuing a Habus, and that he knew it was 
hanged up. A bitter and abusive correspondence 
now took place, at which the gineral beat the Judge all 
holler, fairly drownin the Judge with hard names and 
words. This ended the dispute, but the Judge ap- 
pealed tu the Secretary of State, and there it was re- 
viv'd with tenfold gusts of revilin, which oney di'd by 
havin no one tu oppose. 

A glance at this are bisness made me shrug my 
sholders. I cou'dn't get along with it, so I went and 
ax'd the gineral how 'twas. Major, says he, this bis- 
ness is like all the others I've bin consarn'd in^ 1 don't 
know why, but for the life of me, I raise a row as soon 
as I open my mouth. I've alwase a storm about me, 
and yet I alwase get ahed, and do my bisness some- 
how. Its true, accordin tu coortly usage I transgress, 
but this aint the short cut— it don't strike the public 
attention, major, and don't make talk, and raise friends 
and inemies. Tu raise a storm, major, is the way tu 
draw round us all the bold sperits, and 'em are fellers 
that, like myself, aint pernickety about responsibility. 
All of this sort in the hull nation rise up at onct, and 
come out for me. Wi^i sich as these the timid folks 
are kept quiet, and I can do jist as I'v^ a mind tu, 
which saves a nation site of troubble. Where folks 
are independent I'm not sure of 'em. Those who'll 
support me from principle, will leave me from princi-^ 
pie when they think me rong, but these never inquire 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 179 

whether I'm rite or rong, but how I'd have it, and they 
are ready tu help me out. Major I'm no statesman; 
you guess that, but I've got energy, and when I know 
what's rite I'll do it in spite of the devil.— Well, well, 
gineral, I know you're the rale grit, and all for the peo- 
ple; but some of the folks say that you alwase do bis- 
ness in a t-.mpest of passion, and that you arn't 
well able tu judge what is rite from what is rong at 
sich times. — Major, when my instructions aint alwase 
tu my mind, I've no help for't but jist tu git in a 
passion, tu force my way thro', and hasn't govern- 
ment alwase taken my side.? I don't care about the 
ivay of doin things, supposin I get it done— I leave that 
tu those who've more time tu spare; so no more now 
about it 



CHAPTER XXV. 

*/^i hull crowd of matters brou^t intu one chapter.^ 
The gineral nominated for President. His talk tu 
himself on hearin the news. Is appinted tu the Sin- 
net of the United States. Electioneerin on a large 
scale. Public favors. The gineral defeated in Con- 
gress^ where a President is elected. Is a leetle rathy 
with Mr. Clay., and puts stories intu circulation which 
Mr. Clay denied, and the gineral' s backers ivouhl 
n''t prove, which set him mad as a hornet. Me and 
the gineral have a talk. End of the Life. 

I'm now come tu the most important time of the giner- 
al's life — a time long expected bj him, tho' not without 
some misgivins as tu qualificashions and consequences. 
The gineral was nominated for the Presidency by the 
Legislater of Tenesee in July 1822, and in the follow- 
ing session of the same body he was appinted 'tu the 
sinnet of the United States, in place of Mr. Williams, 
who resined his seat tu make room for him. 

When the gineral receiv'd information that he was 
nominated for the Presidency he was sittin in his ofl&ce 
at the Hermitage. It was a surprise tu him. Arter 
hearin the news he threw one trapstick over tother, 
folded up his arms, fixed his eyes on the carpet, and 
begin'd a soliloquy with himself, thus: "So — gineral 



OF GENERAL JACKSON, 181 

Jackson is nominated for President — Do the people 
ralej believe that he'd be competent tu guide the af- 
fairs of this grate nashion ? — Jackson — President — aye 
indeed — what a prittj President he'd make — don't 
believe it — well — if they think I'd make one — why 
then they'll be satisfied with the kind I'd make — 1 
may try — with kinder help I may get along — this is 
easy got — I wou'd then have a chance tu have my own 
way — the people wou'd let me — faults I'd commit — 
what then — enuff wou'd make 'em out virtues — all 
grate men have flatterers — coortiers they call 'em — 
my doins wou'd be lauded — my errors wou'd be for- 
gotten — my sins forgiv'n— my name render'd immortal 
— 1 swow — well, if the people will have it so, I may 
try it — I'll accept — hoora!" 

When it was announced that he was appinted tu the 
Sinnet, Mr. Richie of the Richmond Inquirer, said, 
*« The country may yet rue the change," alludln tu 
Williams makin way for him. — This same Richie 
found that the gineral was goin up hill, and that if he 
wou'dn't catch hold of his skirt he must go down; so 
that his own predixion mite come true, he com'd round, 
and begin'd tu help him along. 

The gineral was now started on the political race- 
course. His friends were warm and zealous — They 
know'd their man and stuck tu him like deth. They 
circulated a thousand of the gineral's good sayins, and 
a thousand he didn't say, as those he did. The giner- 
al was pledg'd tu oney one term, if successful, and 
also tu destroy faxions as he did the Ingins. He 

receiv'd a sword from the Legislater of Tenesee he 

was publicly escorted in his travels — was supported by 



182 

Hickory Clubs — invited tu 50 dinners in every place 
he went — was sent tu New Orleans tu make a parade 
— and received a golden medal from Congress. All 
the politicians, and even the president himself, got tu 
squabble about his rale or s'pos'd letters ritten tu 
Monroe, recommendin Fideialists and Dimocrats tu be 
welded in his cabinet. The gineral was now call'd up- 
on for his public sentiments — his private ones every 
body know'd and publish'd. His letter tu Dr. Cole- 
man in favor of the Tariffj his letters tu some dozen 
or tu aginst it, and others intended for effect which 
nother Daniel, nor a konjurer cou'dn't tell what they 
meant, so nacky was the gineral when he wish'd it. — 
Now, books were dedicated tu him. He footed it, 
and ball'd it, and din'd it, and corresponded it with 
Aaron Bur's old croney Swartwout, and defended 
himself aginst a thousand imputations and accusa- 
shions, and sought hundreds tu witness his assertions, 
tu attest his veracity, tu refute calumnies — tu contra- 
dict foolish sayins he was reported tu've made about 
40,000 muskets tu reg'late Kentuck politics, and fifty 
other matters, so that if he hadn't a pleasant, he had a 
merry life. The sweets of bein a public man had gone 
aibre; now he begin'd tu feel the thorns. Still there 
was many tu give him cloth for his coats, beef for his 
table — rings for his finger, and the Telescope and pis- 
tols of Washington. If it hadn't bin for one and ano- 
ther who kept his sins in remembrance, [the gineral 
wou'd've bin one of the happiest men in existence as a 
politician. 

But the Presidential election com'd at last. The peo- 
ple wou'd've their own way, and voted as they were 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 183 

pleas'd. No one was elected, and the work now past 
over intu the liands of congress. The members of 
congress in the lower house are appinted, when the 
people fail, tu give a president tu the nation. Some 
argufj that every representative is bound tu vote as 
his state had voted. Others contend that if thej vot- 
ed as their constituents had voted no president cou'd 
be made. That the constitution committin the woi'k 
in which the people had f^iil'd, tu other men, with 
other views, and feelins, and opinions, intended tu 
leave the representative at liberty tu do as he seed rite. 
Some said that the sp:^ it of the constitution intends 
that the candidate si all be afore Congress for a free 
vote— that up tu the last hour of votein facts may be 
develop'd which wou'd change the mind for or aginst 
the candidate, and that, therefore, the voter shou'd 
be free tu give his ballot accordin tu the public in- 
terests. 

Mr. Adams was elected. The gineral was not 
pleas'd at his defeat, and reproached Henry Clay for 
makin a bargin with Mr. Adams. Among political 
rivals sich charges show bad, whether true or false.-- 
They raise bad blood, and bring the worst passions 
intu play. They flabagast good manners and good 
morals, and only show that one of the parties is vex'd 
and disappinted. The gineral had charged Mr. Clay 
with a bargin with Mr. Adams. Mr. Clay denied; the 
gineral affirmed, and referred tu individuals. The in- 
dividuals referr'd tu had bad memories, and cou'dn't re- 
collect. The gineral now getted intu a foam,and terribly 
threaten'd the forgetters of things so important. In 
this way the petty discussion agitated for a long time 



184 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFE 

the public mind, the friends of each believin pritty 
much as thej did at first. 

The political contest now raged with grate violence* 
The gineral know'd he'd be president, but he thou't he 
must fite for it. His friends was rale pluck, who said 
they'd put him in, if his opponent was as pure as the 
angels that surrounded the throne of God ! The giner- 
al was now of the opinion that he wou'd make a first 
rate president. His friends made hinv believe it, and 
he had this advantage over all his competitors, he pro- 
mised every thing he was ax'd tu promise, loudly de- 
nounced his opponents, coorted the people, and led 
the poor tu believe that he wou'd distribute among 'em 
the welth of the rich. 

The gineral was agin put intu nomination. He at- 
tended as Sinneter in Congress, a spell or tu, and re- 
sined, becase he wanted tu reserve all his knowledge 
tu use whe he'd come tu be president. He didn't like 
thesinnet a bit, and wou'dn't remain among 'em any 
more, 'cause he had doom'd 'em. He seed they was 
of no use oney tu plague the President, and he cou'd 
n't see why the President needn't save the troubble and 
do the work without 'em to save expenses. He was 
all for economy, and this wou'd help the poor, 'cause, 
the public money wou'd be spent in works upon which 
the poor wou'd be employ'd. His professed object was 
tu make the rich poorer and the poor richer — tu favor 
the people, and biing back the golden age, when pigs 
and poultry, all ready roasted and gratis, wou'd be car- 
ried round, beggin tu be eat, and no one wou'dn't eat 
'em. 

When I had comM this far I went and ax'd the gin- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 185 

eral if he wanted onej more put into his life, as I was 
jist agoin tu make him President, and if he hadn't I 
wou'd close this part of my book. The gineral jist 
look'd it over a leetle, and begin'd tu laft' for all natur. 
Why major, sajs he, I guess you'll give some on 'em 
the collywabbles laffin at: my life. You've beat major 
Eaton ail tu chips, he cou'dn't hold the candle tu you 
in Biografy. Even the learn'd Walsh hasn't hit the 
pint so exactly as you have. You've brou't me afore 
my friends in the true lite. Hadn't I jist done what 
you've said, I wou'dn't never have bin president, and 
that which has made me the first in the nashion ought tu 
stand out in my life tu be most seed and admir'd. — 
But, major, if you're goin tu rite my administratshion, 
I want }ou tu git it from my own lips. You'd better 
sit with me, and we'll talk it over, and you rite it down 
arter we're done, and then you'll be sure it'll be 
jist the thing. When I tell you what I think, and do, 
and the reason of it, if you can show cause why it 
isn't rite, or can tell me what the people say in opposi- 
tion, I will hear you, for major, I've a notion that you're 
an honest man, and, tho' we differ in some matters, that 
you see intu things pritty sharply arter allj and whe- 
ther I'll foller my own counsel, yourn, or Amoses, I'll 
hear all you say, and can say, and then we'll tell the 
people, whom I love dearly, and whom I'm so anxious 
tu support in all my measures. 
Q2 



CHAPTER XXVL 

Tlie gineral made a president of. His augural speech. 
Me and the gineral converse about it. The gineral 
gives the substance' of it, explains a part^ and con- 
sents tu give more in the next chapter, 

Havin past over bj a hop, skip, and jump, the hull 
fitin and sparin of the electioneerin campaine while the 
gineral and Adams, was on the course, I come up tu 
the time when the gineral was made President. Gosh! 
what a pucker the Adams men were in when they dis- 
covered that the gineral had more than doubled his 
rival. I guess the hero ot the quill had tu streak it, 
and make way tor the hero of New Orleans in short 
meter. 

Well now the gineral is president at last. He had 
a tug of it; but his opposers had tu yield, and the man 
of the people has received a victory as hardly contes- 
ted as any he ever fited in all his born-days. 

I guess the best way tu give my readers a true ac- 
count of the gineral's glorious administration is tu be- 
gin at the first eend of it and go strate thro'. Tu 
know where tu find the beginnin I went and ax'd the 
gineral. Major, says the gineral, dont you recollect 
my augural speech. That is my first step, says he, 1 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 187 

delivered that afore I took the oaths, and then I went 
at work with my sleeves roll'd up, and soon I clear'd 
the decks of 'etn are fellers that've bin so long tryin 
tu fatten 'emselves on the public crib. Begin, Major, 
at the augural speech. 

I then took up the augural speech. Gineral says I, 
I want tu read this are speech over, and ax you about 
it, as 1 go along I It is a master work, and isn't no 
wonder the nation look'd forrard tu the glorious times 
from your wise administration. But I want vou tu 
tell me what is meant by your «' acknowledgin the ac- 
countability tu which your station enjoins." Why 
Major, I meant that when I quit the office I will leave 
the house, and furniture, and public offices, and docu- 
ments, and all 'em are things belongin tu the nation tu 
my successor. 

0, I guess how 'tis, gineral you'll take care of the pub- 
lic property, and afore you leave it provide some one 
who'll take care of it arter you. Gineral, I'd jist like 
tu've your influence with the people, tu get your place 
when you quit. I'll promise ever so much, if you'll 
recommend me, and I know they'll do what you bid 
'em.— But youtill'd'em also, that 'Mhe best return 
you can make is the zealous dedication of your humble 
abilities tu their service and their good." I 'spose 
this means, that the people had giv'd up all tu yourn 
hand for safe keepin. Now, their aint any trouble 
in takin tmbf folk's property oney when it must be 
kept in theirn way : keep it your own way, and their 
amt no fuss in managin— all goes strait^ or if there'd 
be any jerrycummumblin in the bisness, you've oney tu 
say, like a squire givin judgment, this is accordin tu 



188 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

my under standiu of it, and their aint no law of Con- 
gress for makin all folks think alike. 

Major, says the gineral, the care of the hull nation 
is now in my hands. In the beginnin it is alwase best 
tu promise well. You know any augural speech goes 
over the nation in a flash. My friends will believe it 
all and forever, so I may do arter, what I like. If I for- 
get my promises, jist becase the opposition charge me 
with wrinklin, my friends won't believe, and they 
are the majority. You read there, major, what I 
teird 'em about the gratitude their confidence in- 
spires. Now, as my friends oney giv'd me aid, tu 'em 
oney is my gratitude due. I don't owe my inemies 
o-rLtitude. I've taken their great interests intu my 
hands, but I'll take special care they'll ouey git the 
benefits as I carve 'em, and tu my inemies that'll be a 
car.t pattern. I reward my friends who put me intu 
office— those who didn't put me in earn'd no reward 
and cant expect any. I'll execute the laws -for a 
stated period," but I didn't say how long that period 
was tu be. This promise I've fulfilled tu the let- 
ter, and as tu the constitution, as I said afore, there 
is no act of congress that this shou'd be constru'd 
any one way. They've left me tu do it my own 
way, and that must be accordin as I understand 

it. , , 

The revenues tu, major, are plac'^,^ my hands.— 
I'm tu say whether they shall be large or^rnall, where 
they shall be kept and who shall take charge of 'em.— 
The people's money shou'd be in the hands of the peo- 
ple's man. In me the people have grate confidence. 
They will be contented with any disposition I make 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 189 

of it; and I don't see why it shou'dn't be a leetle us'd 
tu perpetuate or preserve in rite of succession the re- 
publican cause and ascendency. For what better use 
cou'd it be appli'd? Pni the first who got intu the 
government chair who ought tu be call'd republican. — 
My party was not call'd Fideral or Dimocrat,^ but 
JACKSON. It is a new party, with a new name, and 
embracing new principles. It is formed out of the odds 
and eends of all paities. It contains the old Fideral- 
ists who hated Adams for becomin a Dimocrat, and the 
young republicans who wou'dn't be call'd dimocrat 
'cause they despised 'em for their hypocrisy — of sol- 
ders who lov'd fitin, and hop'd I'd give 'em plenty of 
smabblin if an inemy cou'd be got up tu attack; of 
disappointed office seekers, who looked for a change, 
of bar-room and oyster-cellar politicians who alwase 
have most influence among the voters. Of the boss ra- 
sin, and gamblin. and diiellin, and tickle-pitchers; and 
those who think independence tu consist in an obstinate 
and hedstrong self-will; of thegougers, and rip-roarious; 
the screamers who love tu rub one another down with 
their tooth-picks; the strong lung'd who hoora in cho- 
rus 'cause they like tu join with those who make most 
noise, of the sycophants who flatter and the servile who 
obey — these major, are my friends ; can they be 
chang'd? Can you make 'em understand law, or the 
requirements of the constitution! These men wou'd 
hoora for the hero of New Orleans if I wou'd openly 
defy the constitution and laws, so long as they believe 
I'm on their side — and I can be there as long as I please. 
But you know there's no danger of that, 'cause I'm 
sworn, and by virtue of my oath am bound tu interpret 



190 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIVE 

it rite whatever construcsliion 1 may put upon it — and 
I hadn't tak'd the oaths when I made 'em are promises 
in my augural speech. 

AVell, gineral, I want you jist now tu go over your 
augural address and 'splain it tu me. You know I'm 
your friend, and want tu be able tu defend you when 
you are attack'd by your inemies. 

Major, says the gineral, that are augural address 
was the cutest thing I ever rit. It'll make me presi- 
dent as long's I've a mind; 'cause every man on 'em 
that reads it will lay it up tu read agin, and they'll 
not believe a word my inemies say. I tell'd you about 
'gratitude,' but I meant it tu my friends, mind, that put 
me in; about my executin the laws, and I've executed 
mujjy on 'em without judge or jury; about 'accountabi- 
lity* — arter all, major, this word stumps me, for as I 
don't know any one grater, I don't know who tu ac- 
count tu; about the 'magnitude of the public interests' 
— it is easy, major, tu lessen their magnitude and ease 
the burthen off me; and a 'zellus dedication of my 
humble services for their good' — this, major, means tor 
the good of my friends, it can't surely mean all the 
nation, as well my friends as inemies. There isn't 
any thing, major, like pinchin our inemies. This'll 
make 'em veer round, and give us their support. Now 
the men that join'd me in the first instance from love 
will be mine alwase; I don't want tu hold out tu 'em 
any bribes, or give any on' em rewards. Principle is 
reward enuff, and this cost 'em nothin. But my hum- 
ble abilities tu their service and good, looks for re- 
turns. The men that comes over from tother side tu 
mine oney make sacrifices; they don't come over with- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. l91 

out expectin somethin; and if they come over, leavin 
me tu saj what I'm tu give, the laws of honer binds 
me tu give an equivalent. Am I tu be worse than any 
cocker, or blackleg in the hull country?— No, no, 
major, the president must be just. One man, paid 
for, will do my biddin better thfin one hundred who 
were mine from principle. They will strane their 
throtes louder in hooras, and be more noisy, and zellus, 
they will be more ready tu git up m.eetins, make 
speeches, offer resolutions and drink toasts than all 
others, 'cause thei'- benefits depend on me; in my 
fall the hull on 'em falls, nor will they ever rise, 
'cause no one wou'd ever trust 'eri arter. 

Now, major, says the ginerul, in administerin the 
laws of Congress, I promis'd tu *' keep in view the 
limitations and extent of the executive power, trustin 
tu discharge the functions of my office, without trans- 
cendin its authority." The management of the public 
revenue will, of course, demand no inconsiderable 
share of my official solitude. I promis'd the " observ- 
ance of a strict and faithful economy." This I pro- 
mis'd more 'specially because Ihop'd tu have the glory 
of payin off* the national debt, 'cause it will counter- 
act the tendency tu public and private profligacy which 
a profuse expenditure of public money is apt tu engen- 
der. The prompt accountability of public officers tu 
Congress will be powerful auxiliaries tu this. I pro- 
mis'd, also, tu encourage the productive labour of each 
part of the grate sections of our country which mite 
be found essential tu our national independence. In- 
ternal improvements and the promotion of knowledge 
by the constitushion, and also the military service was 



192 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

embraced in my pledge. I tell'd the people that our 
*' government will be worth defendin so long as it's 
administer'd for the good of the people, and is regu- 
lated by their willj so long as it secures the rights 
of person and property, liberty of conscience and of 
the pressj that joar/ia/ injuries and mortificashions mite 
fall on some, and that a million of armed freemen 
can't be conquer'd by a foreign foe." I also, promis'd 
reform — the correction of abuses in bribin at elections 
—the right course of appointments — the removal of 
unfaithful and incompetent hands, and the selections 
of men of diligence, talents, integrity, and respecta- 
bility tu fill offices. But, major, I tell'd all the folks 
I was diffident, that I doubted my abilities, that I wou'd 
look with reverence on the examples of public virtue 
left by my illustrious predecessors, and that 1 wou'd 
depend for instruction and aid from the co-ordinate 
branches, that is from Congress, and the supreme 
coort appinted by the constitushion tu expound the 
laws, and last ot all tu a kind providence. Now, 
major, isn't my augural speech the best that you ever 
see. Hasn't it promis'd all that a grate man ought tu 
tell a grate people.^ Isn't it jist the thing tu make the 
people stick tu me tu the last? What more couM 
I've promis'd — or cou'd the people ask? 

Gineral, says I, that are augural speech is the best 
ever giv'd tu the people of this country, but I want it 
further splainM. I don't understand some on it. 
And as this chapter is jist now full, in my next, me 
and you will talk this matter over more at large, for 
as I'm comin forrard I want tu know how I'm tu act 
if elected tu fill that seat when your time's out. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Me andjhe gineral converses further upon the proceed^ 
ins of the administration. He splains his augural 
speech, and tells his meanin of '^Co-ordinate branch 
of the government.'^ He forms an assistant cabinet 
tu aid*him, like Moses dividin the labor inthe wilder 
ness; give a picier o/'Amos Kindle, secretary of the 
chatkin Cabinet ; the loay he manages the Sinnet tu 
curtail their poiver ; and 7ny opinions as tu matters 
and things, for the sake of makin things look rite 
which seem hard tu reconcile. 

The next mornin me and the gineral met in the 
grate east room. He held out his hand tu give me a 
shake, for grate men and old men ought alwaise first 
give the hand tu the lower in rank, or the younger. 

Now, gineral, says I, I want you tu splain some of 
your augural speech. You spoke about executin the 
laws ; I dont quite understand what is meant by exe- 
cutin. Are they tri'd and condemM." 

Quite the reverse, Major ; the meanin of the augu- 
ral speech is tu put 'em in force, but some on 'em are 
not constitutional, and arn't tu be kept— ^they are tu 
be nullified. 

But, gineral, I want tu know what you said in an- 
R 



194 "^MAJOR JACK DOIVNINg's IfFE 

other place about <* Co-ordinate branches of the ^o^ertl- 
ment." What is meant by *' Co-ordinate ?" 

"Co-ordinate," major, is a word used for a branch 
of the government that the constitution intends shou'd 
be aid tu the president in performin the duties of the 
government. There, major, is Webster's dictionary, 
uhat says it ? — an equals not an inferior. 

But, gineral, if there are co-ordinate branches^ with 
powers equal tu yourn, arn't you president, and that 
means above them. I don't understand this dividin of 
power. But as you took 'em are oaths, I 'spose you 
m.ust submit, there's no help for it. 

Not always, major, I've a way of doin things altoge- 
ther my own. Myself, Congress, and the Supreme 
Coort, are the three pillars of the Constitution. Con- 
gress makes laws, the Supreme Coort splains 'em, 
and I see 'em enforced, and make the people obey 'em, 
Bii-t, major, as there is a majority tu make me pre- 
sident, that majority makes the representatives in Con- 
gress, and a majority in Congress of my friends goin as 
I wish 'em supports me in all I do. Now what is Con- 
gi-ess, v/hen a majority are all my friends, but the name 
of a thing. If they do an act I don't approve the consti- 
tution gives me power tu veto it, and there isn't any 
use of the veto power except tu use it. The govern- 
ment goes on snug when they are all my friends, but 
they aint all mj friends ; some of 'em are fellers are 
inspectin intu tlie doins of the government all the time, 
and must know every thing. Some things they do, but 
many things I take care they don't know. 

You see, major, the Constitution allows me a number 
of secretaries. These do sartin laborin ; but I've fix'd 



OF GENERAL JACKSOX. 195 

It SO that I can keep tu set, one tu sit in the parlour, 
and one tu watch the kitchen. These are a kinder 
balance of power, so that I mite be safe among many 
counsellors. The gentlemen appointed as my legal 
advisers, are selected from among the talent, and wis- 
dom, and learnin of the states. Those I have taken 
intu my confidence tu watch the others are men distin- 
guished for schemin and cunnin. Now, upon the prin- 
ciples I intend tu conduct my government these are 
men are necessary ; 'cause I'm president of the United 
States, and the Cabinet proper counsel me in all mat- 
ters relatin tu the states 5 but I'm partiklary the pre- 
sident of all the men in this are nation who rally round 
my name and flag, and a second cabinet is essential tu 
represint 'em, and manage their affairs. If this cabinet 
who represents the loaves and fishes were not tu aid 
me, my inemies mite git intu office. The cabinet pro- 
per don't attend tu matters of this are kind ; and if I 
hadn't this assistant cabinet I cou'dn't get along a bit. 
Tu my wisdom the merit of this improvement in the 
system of government is due ,• it saves me a nation site 
of troubble, as all applications for office must first 
come thro' them ; and arter they've examin'd intu it 
jist tu see that the applicant is a friend, it is then sub- 
mitted tu me. At the hed of this cabinet stands Amos 
Kindle, Esq. who is in my iotire confidence. Here, 
major, is a beautiful likeness of him, drawn by Peter 
Fogrum, and shows him a man well calculated for his 
profession. 



196 



MAJOR JACK DOWNINg'^S Llfi: 



AMOS KINDLE, Esq. 

Secretary of the Cabinet for chalkin Candidates for 

office, and makin ''em marketable. 




Gineral, you tell'd me about the ''co-ordinate 
branches," what connexion have you with 'em. Are 
you all independent of, or do you mutually support 
each other? 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 197 

Major, our constitution is formed on republican 
principles. In England they've King, Lords, and 
Commons. Here we have the President, Congress and 
the Supreme Coort. Congress is form'd of the Sinnet 
andtheloA^er House. The Sinnet must act upon all 
my nominations, for the Constitution requires me tu 
nominate men tu fill all offices which are not sub- 
ordinate ones, arter they've past the assistant Cabinet. 
This Cabinet, like Moses in the wilderness, when he 
divided the labor among his princes, / have call'd tu 
my aid. All appointments, whether ordinary or sub- 
ordinate, from the Secretary of State, tu the most 
insignificant clerk, comes up afore 'em; they examin 
candidates, and when found true Jacksonmen they are 
chalkW and sent tu me, jist as flour or Pork is mark'd 
in the Filadelfy market for shippin. When the 
chalk'd candidates present tu me their certificates I 
enter 'em on the list. This saves me a nation site of 
botheration; for I've oney tu go tu this list, examinin 
the numbers, and take out of the number I want a 
selection from any name that pleases me, and send it 
tu the Sinnet. If the Sinnet don't approve, why I 
guess I've found a way tu work 'em. I jist send no 
more nominations till that Sinnet rises, and then ap- 
point that are candidate tu the office the Sinnet refus'd. 
'Twas thus I did with that are Gwinn who call'd me 
<*the rock of ages," tu be a Register of the land 
office in Missippi, tho' not a man in that State had 
ax'd for him and the Sinnet had twice refus'd him. 

But gineral, you tell'd me that the Sinnet is a co- 
ordinate branch of the government. If it's equals as 
you say, you are bound by your oaths of office tu 
R 2 



198 MAJOR JACK DOWXIXG's LIFE 

treat it not onej with respect as a member of the Con- 
stitushion, but tu honer it as you expect it tu honer 
you. Now, I'm of the opinion that in this you draw 
the cord tu tight. If the Constitushion intends that 
the office be fill'd it appints the way, namely, that you 
nominate and they agree. Now, it'dbe jist as rite for 
the Sinnet tu appint without your nomination as you 
without they're agree'd. It wont do, gineral, tu stop 
nominatin if your nominatin aint agree'd tu. You've 
tak'd the oaths, and must continue tu nominate. 
When it comes tu personal matters, — when you nomi- 
nate those whose oney merit is, that they are attatch'd 
tu you. as a man, and not tu principles, they mayn't 
be so much tu blame. The people are jellus of men 
who use their influence tu attach friends tu their per- 
sons instead of general principles. They say, gineral, 
this is the first step tu monarchy — the line of martsck 
which all monarchs 've pursu'd, and they've the ex- 
ample of amost all nations that grate military men as 
you are, git from habit rite intu a spent similar tu what 
a monarch has. He is positive in his comm^ndsj is in 
the habit of implicit obedience, is usually courted by 
his officers for a good word in promotion, is flatter'd 
by the people who love military fame, and is accus- 
tom'd tu honers and rewards. Gineral, I say these 
things 'cause I hear the folks down east among your 
friends talk 'em over. But in speakin of your augural 
speech, you said, you iU'd the folks you was 'diffid- 
ent,' and wou'd "look »vUh reverence on the examples 
of public virtue left by your illustrious predecessors, 
and depend for instruction and aid on tlie co-ordinate 
branches (ri the government. Now, if you will not 



OF* GEN'ERAL JACRSON'. 199' 

nominate tu the Sin net 'cause thej don't agree tu ap- 
pint all you nominate is that dependin for aid from the 
'^co-ordinate branches." Is that "lookin with rever- 
ence on the examples left by your illustrious predeces- 
sors." Gineral, this looks tother way, and, unless 
you've tu faces on' one hed, you cant be lookin tu your 
pledge. It looks more like disrespect towards *«your 
illustrious predecessors;" it seems like dispisin the 
aid of the other, equal tu you, branches of government, 
especially if you have time tu nominate and they tu 
act on it. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

7%e conversation continued about the augural speech, 
in which the gineral tells about his promises. The 
gineral amost peek'd at my plainness. He talks of 
Blare, as one of the dial kin cabinet. Gives his picter 
with a high charackter of him. Intro ducted the name 
of Mr. Van Bur en as his Vice, and gives his picter for 
my book. Tells that Martin is the link ativeen the 
upper and the lower cabinets Reason why the gine- 
raVs promises cou\Mt be fulfiWd. The gineral^s 
peculiar friends. Dignity and respectability is the same 
as aristocracy. The post-office, and Judge M^Lane, 
Barry a belter Postmaster. Why. His cute managin. 
The gineral tells about bein hoax\l, and other mat- 
ters important tu know about, sich as Nortonizin. 
and reformin. Afeiv words about Mrs. C. Mrs B, 
and a change in the cabinet. 

Major says the gineral, do you mean to insinewate 
that I didn't promise 'em are things in my augural 
speech. 

Yes, yes, gineral, says I, you promise'd 'em I 
know, but I'm very anxious for your honer, and the 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 201 

folks say that you haint kept your promises^ thi& rais'd 
my dander; and so I ax'd tu know your meanin, tu be 
able tu show the people, when I argufy with 'em, that 
all your promises and acts are in agreement. I want 
tu know whether you've discharg'd the functions of 
your office ivitliout transcendin Us authority. This 
you've promised. 

Major says the gineral, gif you do go on at this kind 
o' rate I can't answer any more questions. I tell ye, 
major, I'll stick till the people like a shock from a tor- 
pedo fish. You've oney tu read the Globe, and it'll 
tell you all about it. Mr. Blare is my friend. He is 
one of the chalkers, and is nation cute at findin out a 
false from a pretended friend. He marks in red all he 
suspects; and they are put on the shelf till they are tri'd. 
If they hoora for a week arter they think they're re- 
jected then they're call'd up and chalk'd. But go tu 
Blare the Editor of the official, and read his paper. — 
This Blare is a most intellectual, patriotic, disinter- 
ested, honest man. Here is a picter of him; for I al- 
ways keep the picters of my assistant cabinet near me— 
they are my main props. 

In addition tu editor Blaire, there is Martin Van Bu- 
ren, my Vice He is th3 trigest feller in this are na- 
tion. I guess he's up tu trap. He's one time in the 
upper cabinet, and another in the under one. He is a 
linkatween 'em, and reg'lates 'em both. He don't sit 
with cither, but oney fixes matters with 'em afore they 
meet, and they do the work. He has a nation good 
face, major, and is as cunnin as a fox. How glad I 
am, that are feller Calhoun got out. I want you major tu 
put Martin's picter in your book, 'cause it'll be read, 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



£00 



all over. When and the folks see it they will think 
more of me for havin sich a grate man for my aid. 
Here is the Hon. Martin Van Buren. 



I 




You and he major, may yet be rivals — may be both pre- 
sident alter I'm done, tho» I think I'll be able arter all 
tu stand three terms of service in the chair. 

Three terms of service I gineral, didn't you promise 
tu the people that you'd oney serve one period. 



204 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

So I did, major, and recommended in my message 
that the constitution be altered tu allow the president tu 
serve oney one term. But I put that in arter my message 
had bin put together by Amos, and when it was read, 
the assistant cabinet took the alarm, threatened tu re- 
sine their places if I wou'dn't forget that promise, 
and continue tu be president as long as 1 liv'd, for they 
said the cause'd be ruin'd that way, the friends of Jack- 
son wouldn't be enuft' rewarded, and the nation wou'dn't 
have time tu be put safe from danger and the Jackson 
principles establish'd— so I agreed. 

But, gineral, you said in your augural speech that 
you'd selectable men , tu your offices — men "of tal- 
ent, dignity, integrity and respectability' to fill office." 
I don't understand wh} so many venerable men have 
bin turn'd out — men who fou't and bled in the revolu- 
tion, men of good moral charackter, virtuous, honest, 
faithful, and competent^ tu make room for young braw- 
lin politicians who had never serv'd oney their selves 
and who make a noise in oyster cellars and on elec- 
tion grounds. 

Major, if you talk in that are way my dander is up. 
I receiv'd 'em are fellers chalk'd by Amos; they are 
the rale grit — incense swingers — who'd swear and 
tite, and bully a nation site of your aristocrats who 
shou'dn't never be allow'd tu give a vote on election 
days. These are the larks that'll hoora for me rite or 
rong! One on 'em is worth twenty. They'll go thro' 
all weathers — they'll each make as much noise asfiftyj 
will make 'em are Irish, jist as they land, walk rite 
intu my ranks and give their votes for me slick, I tell 
you. Major if you want me tu aid you tu be president, 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. S05 

go my gaitj there's no fear of us, while these are fellers 
are on our side. They get good salaries, and can spare 
the funds in a hard pinch tu help a good cause. 

Yes, yes, gineral, I'd like tu've 'em are men on my 
side, and so I will; but what I want tu get at is the 
promises you made. Are these men, chalk'd by Amos, 
competent, dignified, talented, and all that? 

Says the gineral, major, says he, it is oney the aris- 
tocrats who talk of dignity. Office gives dignity, 
consequence, or competence, when it comes from me. 
Nobody'U daretu say that any one chalk'd by Amos 
wont be honest. There is Barry, that was chalk'd, 
and marked No. 1, for my cabinet; he has filled the 
Post-office department tu a T. Judge M'Lean who 
isn't good for oney thing, was in that Post office, and 
made it pay one or two hundred thousand dollars 
a-year profit over its expenses, but Mr. Barry, has spent 
near a million in a short while, over and above the 
income. Barry found that congress didn't make 
any propriashions for the contractors at the command 
of the chalkin cabinet, and so he has made fu contracts 
with most on 'em; one tu tickle congress on account of 
its cheapness, tother tu make amends for the cheap 
contracts, by give 'em plenty of pocket money as extra 
wages tu make 'em be active all over the country in hoo- 
rain, and makin speeches and resolutions, 'cause 
they work for 'emselves as they work for me. You 
know, major, I Nortinized a score hundreds of 'em fel- 
lers left in office by M'Lean. It was important we'dVe 
all the postmasters on our side, 'cause they can rite 
gratis, and with three or four thousand agents spread 
over the states, who watch for me and for 'emselves at 
S 



206 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LifE 

onct, nothin cou'd escape us. By this the chalkin cal)^ 
inet find out who is our friends, and who not. 

I recollect, gineral, that some tricks was onct plaj'd 
off on jou fur your laudable zeal in reformin the post- 
office. A parcel of mischievous bojs hoaxt you, 
bj petitionin for the removal of a man who did n't 
exist from an office that wasn't no where. This arose out 
of a dispute atween tu men, one of whom said the post- 
master gineral didift make the removals, but }ou did. 
They tested the bet by this trick ; for tl>ey knew the 
post-master gineral wou'd've look'd intu his post office 
book and seed the office and name afore he'd attend tu 
it ; but you promply discharg'd the duty, and sav'd 
the time, unknown tu the postmaster gineral. 

You also promised that you'd not make appoint- 
ments from Congress. These pleas'd the people na- 
tion well, gineral, 1 think you forgot these tu. You've 
made more on 'em are Congress intu Upper Cabinet 
men, ministers, — I don't mean preachers,— and tu 
other offices, than all the other presidents afore you. 
The people were pleas'd tu the life on hearin this pro- 
mise. They said, here's the hero who is goin tu clean 
out the Ogean stable, and send 'em i^reprockle afany, 
--I think they call it — fellers tu plow and grub, quick 
time. They lieard you, joyful, tell the folks that ap- 
pintin Congress tu offices was bribin over the dexter 
shoulder by hull sale, and that you'd purge off the 
corruption. Gineral, I donH know what tu tell the 
folks about this. I must tell 'em that when you pro- 
mise one thing you mean tother. 

Says the gineral, says he, major, I meant well in all 
my promises. But the chalkers, supervising the na- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 9.07 

tton of Jackson men in the midst of the nation of other 
men, vvou'dn't alwase jist let me do as I intended. I 
cou'dn't do without 'em. They wou'd act without 
plenary power ,' and so I had tu submit for the good of 
the nation. 

I want tu know, general, what you mean by Norto- 
nize. This is a word I've never heard afore. 

Major, says the gineral, that are Norton, Postmaster 
in Harfard, Cohecteket, was a long time in office, so I 
jist turn'd him out tu make room for a friend. He ax'd 
me a reason why I turn'd him out. My answer was 
reform — it was necessary tu reform. He contended 
that merely changin by puttin one out and another in 
warnt reform — it was change. I contended it was re- 
form, 'cause he warnt a Jacksonman and cou'dn't be 
trusted, and this put an eend tu the argument. Well, 
what does these wicked fellers in the opposition do, 
but call my reform Nortonizin, 'cause I want tu put 
all my friends in and my opposers out, and so if they 
choose tu make a word for it, so be't. 

But, gineral, your turnin faithful men out tu put un- 
tried men in isn't servin the interests of the country. It 
may be servin the nation ot Jacksonmen, but then these 
men may act bad and bring disgrace even on Jackson 
liimself. When you declare war upon all who have 
not thou't you the most properest man tu be president, 
you, by that, open the door tu knaves, and cheats, and 
political swindlers tu sell their own principles for your 
offices, while good and lionest men are compelled tu 
submit tu insult and oppression, or resist. Now, re- 
sistance tu a prince is treason in one sense, and he 
that draws the sword must fling away the scabbard 



208 MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 

and fite tu the last. If all this warfare of opinion aint 
for republican doctrine and sentiment, but for your 
exclusive benefit, then this personal homage will fla- 
bagast republicanism, and soon the people will fite for 
men, instead of principles. You, tu, gineral, may so 
love yourself as tu be proud of your mistress — you may 
be a gallant tu yourself — you own parasite — a worship- 
er of your own perfections. In an ambitious man, gi- 
neral, this'd be dangerous tu the country he governs. 
Sich a man mayn't mean bad, but the effects are the 
same as if he did. The leetlest thing in natur will pro- 
duce great changes. You see how 'twas with Mrs. 

C and Mrs. E 'Cause Mrs. C • wou'd 

n't visit Mrs. E a quarl took place which set the 

nation in an uproar. It warn't any thing tu the peo- 
ple, tell you took Mrs. E 's part, and then every 

one took sides. Soon your Upper Cabinet got 
intu the snarls ; you cou'dn't make 'em think of Mrs. 

E as you thou't of her, and when they wouldn't, 

you roared like a lion, and wou'd have Mr. E tu mark 

'em with red ink. Now, gineral, I can't see as how 
this was fulfiUin your promise of payin " reverence tu 
the examples of public virtue left by your illustrious 
predecessors." This, gineral, was leavin an example 
which I'm feart ^our successors wont imitate. You 
sdou'd've stood aloof from sich bickerin, and left 'em 
tu settle their quarls in their own way. Tu make a 
change in your cabinet on account of sich matters — 
your endeavor tu make that good which they thou't 
bad-~gineral where men pride 'emselves on their free 
volitions, thev will not easilv be made tu submit to hu- 
miliations. Him of Kiiiderook, who is us'd tu swaller 



OF GENERAL JACKSON, 209 

what others prepare, who is a practis'd coorteer, and 
aims tu please at any cost, may do it, but the sturdy, 
stubborn, independent republicans, accustomed tu have 
their own way, won't submit tu it— that they wont, in 
spite of all you can do, so I'd jist advise you tu let 
'em have it. 

Gineral, you've tell'd me about your inemies. The 
president of these states hasn't no inemies. You, as 
gineral Jackson may have opponents, but when the peo- 
ple have elected you tu office, every man oppos'd tu 
you submits tu the constitutional president. This is 
rite and proper. Your suppos'd inemies may even op- 
pose your measures, but every man in this country is a 
member of the constitution, and any attack on the pre- 
sident, as sich wou'd be promptly put down. Now all 
my aim, gineral is tu raise the president, by makin the 
gineral forget himself and think he is president of all 
the nation instead of bein the hed of a faxiun. When 
you bring your person intu the chair and reward or 
punish your friends or inemies as they are or arn't your 
personal friends, you set a precedent that I'm afeart 
gineral may in futur do grate harm. I'm for the pre^ 
sident. 



S 3 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

A very interestm conversation about the gineraPs ad- 
ministration worthy of jjerusal by poor and rich, 
and should be a party text book> The gineraPs 
method of makin war on the Sinnef. his ingenious 
plan of gittin out of difficulties. Reform, retrench- 
ment, and what is meant by it. Experiments. How 
experiments shoiPd be trPd, Public credit, its natur 
and benefits. The poor, the country, and public 
morals benefitted by public credit. The specie system 
a blast on the hopes of the poor, and on public pros- 
perity. Remarks. 

Gineral, I want tu ask you why you have so often 
sent tu inform the Sinnet that you had nothin more tu 
lay afore them, while the offices upon which the Sinnet 
had constitutionally tu act were yet unfiU'd, 'cause 
your nomination wasn't approved. Gineral, the peo- 
ple say that you either cou'dn't find another man in 
your party tu fill it, or you were resolv'd tu appintyour 
man in spite of the Sinnet. Was not this rather dis- 
pisin than seekin "aid from the co-ordinate branches 
of the jrovernment." 

Says they gineral, major, says he, I know better 
yA\^V\\ promote the good of the party than the Sinnet 
does. Us like a mob, and no mob hasn't any brains. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 211 

They don't think abit whether the person I've nomi- 
nated is a friend or a foe, or whether the place tu be 
vacated is fill'd by an inemy or not. They oney talk 
of competency, character, integrity, and all that. Its 
no use, major, tu gratify 'em^ if they don't take such 
as I send 'em I'll give none. 

But, gineral, they say they don't think you alwase 
the best judge. Your partiality tu personal friends 
makes you overlook the dignity due tu the United 
States. For instance, a man named Lee, who'd bin 
your secretary for a longtime, and whom some repre- 
sented as havin no good character tu spare, you made 
Consul tu Algiers. I don't blame you for this. Our 
country cou'd spare sich a man and no vast sum be 
found subtracted from its morals. There was a man 
also, who wasn't a Rector of any church, nother, who 
fled from Missouri under an indictment for assault and 
battery with intent tu kill: )'ou appinted him tu office 
spite of the Sinnet. Another feller by the name of 
Jeffers, who'd bin a forger, and who had fled from 
Ohio tu escape prosecution, you appinted tu some place 
in South America as charge of affairs. Now, gineral, I 
havn't no doubt you meant well, but as the character 
of these men were made known tu you afore they were 
appinted, and as you made 'em without consultin the 
"co-ordinate branch of government" who had a con- 
stitutional rite tu exercise a control lin power, is it any 
wonder the Sinnet wou'd think itself not treated with 
respect, while it wou'd doubt whether you were as 
good a judge as it was of what was rite. 

Fury and deth, major, says the gineral, why, weren't 
these officers chaWd by the under Cabinet, and don't 



212 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LlfE 

the members of this Cabinet hold correspondence with 
postmasters allj over, and aint these postmasters as 
honest as the Sinneters, and aint every one on 'em 
instructed in their duty. Nother havn't I confidence 
in the Sinnet except they're my friends, and as they 
ar'n't the majority, mustn't I seek a remedy for thisr 

Gineral, I've no doubt the Postmasters are all honest 
men when that are feller Simpson, with his Lynx eyes, 
is arter 'em; but the Constitution don't say any thing 
about Postmasters reportin tu the chalkers, nor the 
chalkers reportin tu you. And mind, gineral, some 
on 'em Sinneters will send you your oath tu ^pport 
the constitution some of these days, as you did the 
Legislaters of Tenesee, when you so fiercely oppos'd 
State Banks as tu make 'em swaller theirn oaths tu 
prevent their votein for 'em. You were then oppos'd 
tu State Banks, mind, and you took no half way 
measures tu oppose 'em. . rxL 

But, o-ineral, vou mention'd that the majority of the 
Sinnet were your inemies. I don't understand this. 
Does it foller that all are inemies who don't approve 
all our sentiments, or our practices. Gineral, this 
aint the rite view of things. Men will difter very 
honestly in opinion, and yet not be our inemies. But 
if we look upon all men as our inemies who difter 
from us in sentiment, and then treat 'em as sich we 
will soon make ^^m so in spite of 'emselves. We 
force men intu actual enmity when we deprive em of 
the rite of opinion. You promised great r.^m.; but 
folks say that you mean changes by reforms. You 
promis'd economy, but what has bin the result. Let 
us see. Adams you turn'd out for his extravagance. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 213 

The highest year's expense under him was thirteen and a 
quarter millions of dollars, Yourn, in 1832 was rising 
eighteen millions; and in 1833, more than twenty-two 
millions of dollars!! You've three years yet tu rule, 
and if your expenses increase in the same degree for 
the next, as they did for the last three years your year- 
ly expenses wUl, in 1834 be 26 millions,- in 1835 30 
and a half millions, and in 1836, 55 or 36 millions 1 1 
Now, gineral, don't be alarm'd at what I tell you. 
My estimates are in the proportion of your last three 
years expenses, and if in a few years you've spent 
withioi a few thousands of doubble what was spent the 
first y^ar of Adams' administration, why I swou, it is 
time you were makin e'en more noise about reform than 
you now do, for it all wont drown the reproaches of the 
people. 

I don't wonder, gineral, you wanted the United 
States Bank located at Washington under the officers 
of government, as you recommended in your first mes- 
sage, for in a few years your annual expenditer wou'd 
be equal tu its whole capital, and all the aids you cou'd 
find added tu the revenue wou'd be leetle enuff. Now, 
gineral, I'm not gwine tu censure you for all this ex^ 
penditer. It has bin no doubt earn'd ; but Pmjist 
tellin you what folks say, that you may, ar'ler I'm done, 
put me rite. Your friends were zeallus -, those who 
don't support your measures say they more than earnt 
It in the sacrifices of their consciences in the pros- 
tration of their moral naters by servility, and in jumpin 
from one cause tell another without any reason. It is 
true, a number of verydistinguish'd mencom'd over 
tu our side without knowin their price afore they'd 



214 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

bill chalk'd, but thej''ll never be chalk'd now I 
guess, as they know they must stay with us havin 
play'd Arnold tu their own party, who'll never trust 
'em agin. The folks complain, gineral, tliat you can't 
git a man tu stay minister tu Russia. You sent Mr. 
Randolph there 5 he stay'd eight days ; and while he 
remained a year or tu in England he charg'd, and you 
paid him, as if he'd bin at his duty. Gineral this wasn't 
*' the observance of a strict and faithful economy.'^'' 
The orator received 25 or 30 thousand dollars for nine 
days service. You sent also a grist of ministers tu 
foreign parts. One of 'em you sent tu Turkey, and 
when 1 saw the appintment, gineral, why I laft rite 
out, for when you was appointed minister tu the Coort 
of Iturbide in Mexico, you refused tu accept, sayin 
you was a republican and wou'dn't never serve as mi- 
nister at the Coort of a tyrant^ in consequence of which 
no one was appinted in your place, and the commerce 
of our country for several years suifered grately for 
some one tu take care of it. Folks said then, gineral, 
but I didn't believe 'em, that your true reason was, 
you expected tu be nominated for the office you now 
hold and wanted tu be near at hand. This was all 
right--who cou'd blame you. They'd all, gineral, do 
the same, but then the country suffers for self. 

The instructions of Mr. M'Lane as minister tu 
England, and his treaties, you said much for when they 
took place. Now, gineral, no one says a word for 
'em. Your warmest friends keep mum. That was 
arter all a bad bisness, but there aint any use cryin for 
spilt milk. Why I wish, gineral, tu mention these are 
things over, tu put you on your guard. 



bt GENERAL JACKSON. 215 

You sayjou are now makin a great experiment. Wlien 
a fiirmer you made experiments on puttin in your crops. 
Some on 'em hit prittj well, but ten mist for one that 
hit, and it takes so long for an experiment tu operate, 
that wise farmers, trjin experiments, are in the habit of 
riskin leetle. They try on a small scale, and make 
a number of experiments go on at onct. Now a farm- 
er, or a kemist, or any other kind of experiment 
makers never think of puttin any thing intu general 
practice till arter the experiment is ivell proved. If a 
doctor wou'd make experiments on you, gineral, when 
sick, with untri'd medicines, wou'd you not think he 
trifled with your life— wou'd you not discharge him at 
onct— wou'd you not, in case he fail'd and you were 
left worse by the random trial of medicines with 
unknown virtues, lile an action of trespass aginst him 
for puttin your life tu ^hazard. You recollect the 
Swiss patriot Tell ; the Austrian tyrant made him* 
trifle with his son's life by shootin an apple off his son's 
hed. This was an experiment, and was foller'd with 
the tyrant's life and the independence of Switzerland. 
When the Inglish made an experiment on the people of 
this country and tax'd us, what foller'd ? Resistance, 
and it was successful tu. Your notions, gineral, of 
hard money currency wont never do. I say it'll never 
answer. Now, gineral, let me tell you Imw I think ; for 
I'm lookin forrard tu try a tug with Martin when 
youre gone, and I want tu let you see I think on this 
are bisness a leetle tu. You say folks who go intu 
credit ought tu break. That cash capital is the oney 
capital. Now, gineral, see here. There's a poor 
man. He breaks, or some how gits tu be poor. Well 



216 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

he hasn't any money. He hasn't any property ; he has 
n't any trade ; but he has a wife and a family ot chil- 
dren tu give bread tu. ^ow, gineral, on your system 
what is this are man tu do ? You say starve, or go tu 
the poor house. Well, now, this is hard, gineral, and 
I'll tell you why 'tis so. This are man is honest, and 
industrious, and frugal, and enterprising. So.ne on h,s 
neighbors know this ; and they say, I know you are 
honest and careful and industrious andhave experience. 
I'll endorse you a thousand or two dollars, it you 11 
pay your note a year hence, with interest. It 
isa-^reedtu. The poor man goes tu work. He ,s suc- 
cessful in makin a livin, paying his rent, and a part of 
his capital. He is agin trusted, and he is going on pros- 
perously ; but your bank veto comes on, and he is 
Tcredft and has payments tu make. The bank is 
hrea en'd with a government run. It prepares for it 
and calls in. It refuses tu extend, fhe poor man. 
note is thrown out. He offers it at another bank. 
They tell him they owe the bank and must curtail tu 
be prepar'd for a draw when it comes. What next ? 
The poor man who paid simple Interest conveniently 
goes tu the rich men who 've money. He axes tu borrow 
Tolly. What note have you? Peter Poodle's note with 
Tacob Ginger's endorsement. They 'reoney so and so, 
ay Pontfus Pilate; I'U see, and let you know to- 
morrow. In the mean time Pontius Pilate goes all 
Te, inquiring intu the bisness and circumstance of he 
dlawer and endorser. These inquiries raise susp c on 
that affects his credit, and when morning come^he no 
is discounted for two per cent a month, or 40 dolla.s 
on S at four months! But this is not the worst, gi- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 217 

neral, credit is impair'd. Now credit is the glory of 
this country as the victory of New Orleans is of yourn. 
If you injure credit, you dissolve the golden chain that 
binds the hull of society together. This is what has 
made us a moral and an honest people. The hull mass of 
the community is held together in a chain of reciprocal 
dependence. Men become ambitious, gineral, tu have a 
good name — a reputashion for honest, intelligent and 
industrous punctiality. Gineral, take away the paper 
system, and public credit, and that ambition which pub- 
lic credit inspires, and you make him worthless. See, gi- 
neral,— look over our grate emporiums of merchandize. 
Who are the active, the enterprizin, the perseverin, the 
honorable and industrous ? It is the man of credit. 
He is all anxiety tu deserve it. The idea of not meet- 
in his engagements is amost deth tu him. He strains 
every nerve, he tries every honorable expedient tu meet 
his engagements, and if he fails, it is a shock hardly tu 
be endured. Tu sich a man poverty is nothin. It is the 
loss of his good name he feels and dreads. 

Well, now, look there on Simon Saveall, who has the 
hard dollars. What is he? How does he move? Has 
he enterprize? or industry? Or even intelligence, ex- 
cept what he presumes money gives him? He may 
have a leetle of your sperit, gineral, 'cause he thinks 
homage will be paid tu him thro' his moneybags? Why, 
gineral, he draws himself intu his self sufficiency jist 
like a homadod in its shell. If he pokes out his peep- 
ers it is cautiously tu see where he can get some man tu 
grind who is depindent and unfortunate. Sich a man 
never advances the public interests. His dollars affect 
enterprize as a ball does the foot of one of tlie Sing- 



218 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

Sing stone sawyers. Society is leetle improved by him. 
Here and there you will find exceptions tu this rule, 
but in gineral the heavier the bag of dollars is,the heav- 
ier his°head and the less^ his activity. Let the man 
of money onct fail, and he is poor forever. His 
money, renderin him selfish, had extinguish'd his 
public sperit, and left him a drone-a mere muck-rake 
in creation. 

Now, gineral, as sure as you destroy credit you cut 
the chain that binds society together, and let man loose 
on his fellow man that he may prey upon his fellow. 
In this country we pride ourselves on our public 
character for honesty. Our honesty is tried, and 
we oney confide in one another arter trial, for it is oney 
among fools that confidence is establish'd at a jump. 
• The cat and the mouse, the hound and the hare, the 
snake and the man^all these grow intu confidence by 
trial They come together, become familiar, and soon 
the charackters of both change. Men's esteem increas- 
es the more they know one another. Intercourse begets 
confidence and respect. It is said but few men wou d 
become abandon'd rogues if they were confided in, or a^i 
appeal was made tu their honesty f^^ -^" ^^^^^ 
proud,it he has any good feelins, when his honer and in- 
Lrity is relied on. The growin confidence among com- 
m!rcial men, and the strictness [of their dealins is 
repeat, the glory and dignity ot the nation. Take it 
lway--destr:y thecredit system-with it this confidence, 
lies and soon we'll have a dissolution of all trust, a 
teal u^ fear of all around, a Timon like hatred, a univer- 
tal selfishness-the rich become richer, the poor poorer 
distrust, dislike, dishoner, dishonesty, and worse than 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 219 

all civil war\ This is the natural consequence of 
sich a system as yours, gineral. From sich results 
he'ven forfend us. 

Nor is your vetoe principle eny better with regard tu 
the states. Every state shou'd be sovereign in its 
own concerns. But there are sartin things in which 
they ought tu be ti'd together. They shou'd be hung 
together by roads, and canals, and general improve- 
ments. These, like the veins and arteries of the sys- 
tem, shou'd run thro' all, and be made in part at the 
common expense. The coinage shou'd be general, and 
in those exchanges of commerce the coin, the measures, 
the various rules and standards required by trade and 
in equity shou'd be the same all over. 

The subject of borrow'd capital requires oney one 
word. If the trader can make ten or twenty per] cent 
over and above the interest he pays on his capital, 
he needn't care if it comes from the Emperor of 
China, He can soon pay it back, for his industry^ 
alwase his best capital, will enable him him tu re- 
turn the principle and interest and leave him a capital of 
his own. This, gineral, is the true policy. Yourn, — 
I'd rather say Martin's, which you've adopted, is quack- 
ery, nor can you save the nation from ruin if it be pur- 
sued. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

TTie gineral a convert iu my opinions. His hints 
about the explosions of his Cabinet^ and u picter of 
it. Some hints about the cause. The Unit Cabinet. 
Some on ^em wool-dyhi The gineral employs bell- 
swaggers tu keep the sinnet in awe. The gineral' s 
dimocrasy. His vetoes. The people thinks he's not 
on their side. The gineral storming the bank. The 
Bank stands firm The discovery of Strong about the 
gineraVs axin a nomination in Fermsylvania. The 
missionaries taWd about. The gineraVs reasons for 
lettin 'em remain so long in prison. The gineral 
wou'dnH pay the Ingin's annuilies. The reason. 

Major, says the gineral, Vm amost of your opinion. 
I confess your argument stumps me consiilerable. — 
While you were discoursin so eloquent on the credit 
system, 1 thou't I seed the merchants of Nashvil count- 
in their specie, and ringin their dollars tu detect coun- 
terfeits, and boxin 'em up tu send tu Filadelfy or New 
York tor merchandize. Gosh I what a load of metal I 
And then the country merchants, who hav'n't water- 
carriage, and who must have waggons tu draw it at a 
grate expense! Major says he, I find it'd never do. — 
If a steamboat got sunk or burnt, the dollars are tu 
heavy tu move, and they are lost, while a pocket book 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. S21 

will contain ten, twenty, or more thousand dollars 
quite snug. I never seed it afore as I see it now, and 
I swou, major, but I believe I didn't look at things 
thro' the rite specks arter all the aid I had from Mar- 
tin, and the assistant cabinet, and Mr. Tawney, and 
all them are fellers, who I now find don't know nothin 
at all about it. 

But, major, you're pritty sharp I guess, on me in 
some things. I hope I hav'n't bin rong in every thing 
as I've bin in that. Hav'n't I bin careful tu watch for 
the public interests ? When I found my cabinets did 
n't do rite, and wasn't a unit, I blow'd 'em up ski 
high, I'guess, and sent 'em home with a lesson that'll 
do 'em good a long spell. 

Gineral, says I, as tu the exploshions of the cabinet, 
you know every thing went on pritty well tell 'em are 
ladees got tu sparin with their visitin cards. Then 
com'd the sparin atween Mr. Calhoun, and Eaton, and 
Branch, and Ingham, and Berrien, — sich a row they 
had, I never seed afore. 

The blow up, major, was one of the gratest sites 
you ever see. There was Calhoun, who had said 
things aginst me tu or three years ago. The fiste — but 
I soon made him scamper, tho' he's a nation cute crit- 
ter, and tells his story pritty well. But he cou'dn't 
stand afore me. My arm is stronger nor his pen, and 
I'd oney tu say be off! and a million voices, with fly- 
traps half open, cri'd hoora! — oft* with him! Well, 
next, there's Ingham he wou'dn't say Mrs E. was 
what I said she was; he must be pernickity about soci- 
ety, and respectability, and select company. He must 
be an aristocrat as soon's he com'd intu my cabinet, 
T 2 



OF GENERAL JACKSON 223 

and so I giv'd him his pass-port, and like a slag he 
skulk'd without ritin his name with ^' Red Ink,^^ while 
Eaton threaten'd so terribly tu bore holes in his hide. 
And Branch to— he must pretend tu call himself a 
Jacksonman and talk of select society. High times, 
major, I svvou, it's high times. Berrien, also must 
oppose my wishes with his Georgian high blood and 
notions. Well, major, I sent 'em all a wool gatherin, and 
I'm determin'd tu've none in my cabinet who won't 
agree tu keep the company I select for 'em. Pritty 
work this — that my servants shou'd think 'emselves 
better nor their master. But I've sent 'em tu grass, 
short notice, major, and you'll never hear a word about 
'em in your born days agin. 

And now, major, I'm goin tu form a Unit cabinet. 
I can't get ginewine Jacksonmen tu fill the vacancies, 
for there aint eny with the talent I want, but I've dy'd 
a few on 'em in the wool. M'Lane, who made that 
are treaty so nicely with the Inglish accordin tu my 
notions of dignity and independence I put intu the state 
Secretary office. He's bin alwase true. There's Cass, 
one dip di'd him afore he was chalk'd. Woodbury'U 
do; he's full blood. Barry has the nack of keepin his 
credit good, he borrows money slick tu keep the Post- 
office aflote. so that tho' I'm oppos'd tu the credit sys- 
tem, yet all mv plans aint yet ripe, and a leetle credit 
is necessary a while yet, 'cause I change my ministers 
who go abroad so often that it requires a nation site of 
funds tu pay 'em all; and yet if I don't change 'em of- 
ten I can't never revvard 'em, they're so pressin anx- 
ious tu have their turn. 

Now, major, I think with the dye tub tu colour over 



224 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 

that are Fideralism of some of mj cabinet, I've got a 
pritty good one. Van, I've sent tu England, and Bu- 
chanan tu Russia. They've bin sent oney for a lee- 
tle spell. You know I call'd that are Jefters back 
after he was one ^thousand miles on his way, 'cause 
the hull nation made sich an uproar about it^ and 
I'll now git along by the rule of thumb with my Unit, 
oney I'm determined tu have a hickory tooth-pick hung 
up over the door of my Sinnet, and send for a few of 
the rale bell-swaggers jist tu trim the jackets on 'em 
are Sinneters when they become contankerous. 

But gineral, arter all it wasn't foUowin the example 
of your predecessors tu set that are Houston and 
Heard on the Sinnet, and members of the house. These 

are the people's representatives. 

People's fiddle slicks — major, theyaint the people's 
representatives if they aren't ginewine Jacksonmen, 
'cause a majority of the people are for me, and all the 
minority had ought tu come round and be with me be- 
case the people are. 

But, gineral, the people arn't all for you, and they 
send men of their own choice tu speak their sentiments. 
Now, gineral, the constitution gives every one liberty 
of speech, and if the people say we want Roads and '11 
petition for 'cm, and the people's representatives agree 
in majority tu've roads, they say when you veto'd their 
bill, you ain't a true Jacksonman,— -you aint for the 
people, — you deny the people the laws they make for 
'emselves,and that your vetoes arn't republican a bit. — 
Now, gineral, 1 tell you without any circumbendibus, 
what the people say, and I want the people tu know what 
you say in answer for I'm your friend, and want tu de- 
lend you. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 225 

In addition tu your vetoe on roads, and other mat- 
ters, your friends by your orders, as they now say, had 
the Bank United States notes put tu auction in one 
place, refus'd on deposite in another, and that couriers 
were sent by your friends tu speculate on its stock in con- 
sequence of your message, by men in your confidence, 
that are affair in relation tu the Branch of the United 
States Bank at Portsmouth, also, they say is a dark af- 
fair. They say that your under Cabinet sent men over 
the west states among the farmers tu skeer 'em with 
United States five dollar bills oflferin 'em for sale at 
any thing they wou'd give tu make believe the Bank 
was goin tu break. Now, gineral, this ere stormin the 
Bank tu bear it oft' tu New York, or destroy it altugeili" 
er, may be sport for the government, but it is deth tu 
the people. The people, gineral, says you won't let 
'em have any will but yourn; and that you are hoppiti 
mad and roar like a lion when they go against your will. 
They say you are either blind on one side, or obstinate, 
and unwillin that any one shou*d think different from 
you. Your vetoe of the land bill, the harbour bill, the 
Maysville and Cumberland road bills, the United States 
Bank bill, and other vetoes are the exercise of a power 
for which in this or no other country is there any prece- 
dent. The vetoe power they say is for extreme cases 
where facts had not bin known when the bill was passed, 
or where there was a suspicion of bribery and corruption. 

Major, says the gineral, the hull on the opposition 
has bin brib'd. The Bank has brib'd 'em, or they 
wou'dn't vote for it, and now major, I'm determined 
tu be its deth, as I onct afore did at New Orleans.-^ 
1 never forgivcymajorj one of the chicks of that Bank onct 



226 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

affronted me. Here Amos — call up the assistant cabi- 
Het, with all your arms, — major, I'll see if you are the 
rale grit — belt on your sword, for that are Bank— I'll 
level it — I'll carry off the deposites, and may I be sent 
tu the deserts cf Arabia, if 1 don't leave Nick Biddle 
a beggarly account of empty boxes. Let us at onct 
storm it; throw down its proud pillars, and take pos- 
session. [^Bere the Bank is stormed.~\ 

Gineral, I swou, but we've had fine fun. That Biddle 
arter all is rale grizzle. I thou't as how you wou'dn't 
get all for nothin; he knows how tu stand the tug — 
he's rale jonnock, and isn't goin tu hike off when he 
has the dollars tu take care of. 

V/ell, uiajor, arter ail I like spunk; and when I 
seed him give Amos sich a flyin boss when he was 
enterin the Bank, I was mad enuff, and yet amost ready 
tu laff tu — I didn't know which tu do. That are Biddle is 
a pesky keen feller tu snitch for his bags. In the hub- 
bub he was calm — I thou't he'd at onct think the jig 
was up with him, but how quick he stash'd Blare, 
Lew is, Amos, — and yourself major thou't it best tu 
stand at a respectful distance; why, major, I cou'dn't 
move one of the pillars of that Bank while he held it 
with his hand. 

Gineral, says I, I'll tell you a thing or tu. You 
can't budge that Bank except by vetoe. Now avetoe 
is a defiance of the sovereign will, and if tu oftefi 
exercis'd it'll learn the people how tu govern without 
you. Some of your secrets've leak'd out, in that are 
letter you frank'd tu gineral Krebbs of the Pennsylva- 
ny Legislater axin for a nomination in that State. 
Them are Pennsylvanyins, if they git tu see things, are 



228 MAJOR jackdowning's life 

consarn'd honest, and will kick like a young zebra 
hitch'd tu a waggon, at any thing like "paddy come 
over me." I'm rale glad the hull hasn't bin publish'd 
yet— if they'd known that the hull proceedins were 
made and prepar'd here, and sent on as they were, 
gineral,they'd'vekick'duparalebubbery,and've thrown 

the fat intu the fire in a jump, and we'd all had a 
pritty kittle of fish of it; but they didn't, and we had 
the snigger at their expense; tho' I'se a while in 
a twitter when that are wicket feller Strong, of the 
Intelligencer, com'd out upon us. Tell I found out all 
he'd tu say, I guess it warn't any laffin sport. 

But, gineral, your refusin tu protect 'em are Mission- 
aries in Georgia, and also the Cherokees, who are a 
. consarnt cute christianized sort of pagans, has made all 
the friends of Missionaries oppos'd— they said it was 
oney for you tu say the word and they'd be releas'd, 
and you not sayin it shows that you wern't their 

friend. „ . ,, u ^i ^ 

Says the gineral, major, says he, all isn't gold that 
glitters. I had one Baptist Clergyman shot as a de- 
serter I cou'd'vehad 'em xMissionaries releast at a wink; 
but when they resisted the authorities of Georgia who 
were all Jacksonmen and my friends, I thou't they de- 
serv'd their fate. They'd've show'd 'emselves good men 
had they let 'em Ingins alone. Weren't they as well 
the way they had bin? Let 'em remain pagans and 
they'd soon kill one another oft', and we'd get their 
lands without more trouble; but when you make chris- 
tians of 'cm, then they sittle down tu do as white men 
do-they thrive and prosper, and soon they come under 
laws, and there's no gettin their lands from 'em any 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 229 

more. So I jist let *em be well punish'd as a warniii 
tu others. 

Thej say you are so oppos'd tu the Ingins you won't 
give 'em any justice: that you withheld their annuities 
from 'em, and provok'd 'em, and that you are alwase 
makin trouble when you deal with 'em Ingins. 

So I did, major; I wanted tu harrass and worry 'em. 
In this country there isn't no large estates. Now if we 
don't git 'em Ingins lands the grate men and the poor 
'11 be all as one. But if they're made tu move off, 
there'll be tine chances tu speck'late, and get large 
bodies of land, which can't be got no how any other 
way. You recollect, major, how I tri'd tu get for 
my friends a large estate from the Chickasaws. I'll 
never get a chance successfully tu speck'late tell the 
Sinnet is put down, and then I'K work 'em — that I 
will. 



CHAPTER XXXh 

The gineral hears me out. IteWd him about his trea^ 
sury hank, his officers, the way tuhave a pure press, 
and my advice about it. The nuUifyin proclamation. 
The United States Bank, and its new Report. This 
report dissipates all the delusion about its insolvency ^ 
and shows it the true friend of the public. Picter of 
jV. Biddle drivin his Conestoga loaggon, representin 
the Bank, as in my letter tu Mr. Dwight. of New 
York. 

Gineral, says I, you are complaia'd of by the people 
as not bein eny more political honester than your ine- 
mies. They say three hundred thousand dollars was 
drawn from the Nashvil Bank tu aid your election, 
that there is positive proof of this, and that there is 
n't eny way tu jouk it. Well, now. arter hearin this, 
and seein your first message, recommendin the destruc- 
tion ot the United States Bank, and the formashion of 
a Treasury Bank at Washington under the care of 
your tu cabinets, it n't reasonable tu blame a people, 
ieallus of their liberties when they make opposishion. 
Gineral, the voters was, sartin, paid for by your zeallus 
friends, at five dollars a vote, in New York and in some 
of the western states. Your custom house officers have 
bin taxed 5 dollars a month from their salaries, and bin 



OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 231 

made tu pay, or go out if they didn't. Now, I know 
they didirt tell you ai.y thing about it, or you'd 've 
vetoed 'em ; bat I oney tell you that you mayn't com- 
plain of the opposition so bitterly, who've some reason 
for bein dissatisfied with your doins. There's one of 

yourn officei s in P — — , G G— — , who is so notorious 

atarradiddler that he's a disgrace tu your cause, even 
with all its sins, gineral, admittin they were true as your 
inemies say. He prides himself in sinnin that all may see 
it. Ke is n't the oney one who puts no restraint upon their 
consciences ; and the chalkin cabinet seem tu think in 
some of their recommendations, that no man who dont 
take pains tu damn himself is fit for office. Fact they 
take this for the test ; they measure men's abilities by 
their alacrity in swearin, so that those who hang tu con- 
science holds back afear*d there I'sn't no chance for 'em. 
The opposition also, gineral, complain that the press 
is c(;rrupted, and that you are upheld by wicked m?n 
whose principle is their interest, and who make the 
end sanctify the means. The Globe, your official, they 
say was establish'd by corrupt means. The office 
holders were assembled m New York, and a subscrip- 
tion of $2500 ax'd of 'em tu buy presses and types. 
They say a good cause don't require sich bolstetin. Gi- 
neral, you are an LL. D. and knov/ that these literary 
twaddlers oney want tu get the drippins of your fryin- 
pans fur their labour ; they are a set of trimmers, who 
have n't any conscience, men labell'd, with tu be let 
pinned tu their hats, and who 'd sell you for a dollar 
more than you give — a squad of white-livered grubbers 
in the scum of politics — cats-paws for knaves, — mere 
squirts, — the trim-tram companions of your insense- 



232 

swingers in chief. If you want your name,gineral, tu live 
in the grateful remembrance of this nation arter you leave 
that chair, take your tooth-pick, rub 'em down with it, 
and get honest men about you. Mind, gineral, I'm 
your friend^ if you dont take my advice foller journ, 
but remimber, if ye go on at this gate a leetle longer, 
you'll have yourself and this nation in trib, when you 
mayn't 've Jack Downing at your elbow tu assist you. 

Gineral, every one hates a hawk, 'cause its alwase 
for fitin. It may be a virtue tu contend for what we 
think our rites, but it becomes a vice in excess. It 
won't do tu lay a heavy hand upon our opponents, or 
tu say I don't care how much they hate, if they oney fear 
me. Every one has his day ; and the weak, when 
driven hard, are often the victors. Tu trust no one 
who isn't of our own opinion provokes a distrust of 
ourself in retaliation. Every nation, curst with the 
bickerins of selfish and jeallus men aspiring arter dis- 
tinction, is on the downfall ; and he who dyes his 
political sentiments for interest will be sure, at every 
new dip, tu make 'em darker. Sich fellers are troub- 
bled with a vertigo in their consciences, and are never 
very pernikety how they steer if it leads 'em tu profit. 

That are proclamation of yourn aginst the nullifiers 
rais'd you, gineral, in one section of the nation, and 
sunk you in another. You know I'm always ready tu 
martch at the word, and fite 'em nullifiers, if they be- 
come obstropulus. But, gineral, I think, howsomever, 
that your winkin at the doins of the far south, led the 
nullifiers tu be bolder than they wou'd've bin. Arter 
all, the South Carolinas shou'd 've bin kinder treated 
different. I can't see as how its rite jist tu let men 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 233 

getintu discontent, without anj pains tu reconcile "em, 
and when thej become rebellious child er then fly tu 
hard knocks. Gineral, I think there was faults on 
both sides. You lost the south, and gain'd the east. 
Well, this is changin old friends for new ones, which 
is experiment in. When I get tu be president, I'll 
try tu keep the old, and gain new ones South 
Carolina has rites, and they shou'd've bin res- 
pected. The big charter of Brittin says *• we shan't 
refuse, nor delay the justice which is due tu eny 
man." But your system, gineral, was tu let 'em alone 
tell they were ripe for fitin, and then ply the last rea- 
sonin of presidents tu 'em— as an LL.D. mite be ex- 
pected tu do, in the way of nullifyin — by smabblin 'em. 
Now, giaeral, I'm consarn'd glad you let me have 
all the talkin for a spell, and heard me so patient. I'm 
nowgwine tu talk a leetle about that are bank in Phi- 
ladelfy that gives you so much troubble. Gineral, I 
cou'dn't never understand why you oppos'd state Bank 
as gineral Jackson of Tenesee, and supported 'em as 
president of the United States, tell I thou't a spell on 
the borrow in of the post-office, and the necessity of 
havin interested friends who wou'd shell out the kett tu 
keep power in their hands. The borrowin tu election- 
eer from the Bank at Nashvil, reconcil'd you tu state 
banks, and the stern independence of 'em are fellers in 
the United States Bank who won't be nother led nor 
driven by threats nor coaxin, put you out with it. Now 
I see how 'tis. I'll examin it a spell, and if it isn't 
jist the thing, we'll have it pull'd down and remov'd 
tu New York, where they do things by safety-fund 

machines, and where the Banks can't fail if they have 

V 2 



234 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 

ii't no money in 'em, jist because they've a safety 
fund. 

By a report jist publish'd sined by the casheer of 
the United States Bank I find the followin exhibit. — 
It is worth all the cant and spifflicated argument that'd 
fill all the books in the nation. It is argument by 
figgers. The report says : — 

From the 1st of October tell the 1st of March, the 
total reduction of local discounts was ,$4,845,143,56. 
In the same time there has bin an increase in domestic 
bills of g918,77'0,49. Makin the total reduction of 
loans, ^3,926,393,07. Durin the same time the re- 
duction of the government deposites was §7,264,201,96; 
and of private deposites ^665,732,86, makin a total re- 
duction of deposites, of $7, 929,934, 82. 

Durin the same time, (from Oct. Ist.tu March 1st.) the 
specie of the Bank has diminish'd ^278,002,36, and 
the circulation of the Bank ^605,000,57. 

Now, gineral, what think you of this } Can you 
charge a bank with oppressin, injurin and embarras- 
sin the people, while it has actually so far exerted it- 
self for the public benefit, as tu curtail its discounts 
four millions, while you took means out of their hands 
with which they mite've help'd the peojile, for whom 
your peculiar sympathies are so loudly express'd, of 
more than 7| millions 1 ! That is, the reductions oi 
loans by discount made for tlie benefit of commerce is 
not 'SO grate as the *mount of money you've taken 
from 'em by more than four millions of dollars. 

It is stated that of near eight millions drawn from 
the United States Bank, and left in otlur Banks, half 
that sum has not bin loaned out, by the banks tu which 
they were sent. 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. £35 

This wicked bank has in the three last months sent 
intu circulation nearly two niil lions and a half of it;* 
bills more than it had afore, in order tu benefit the 
people for whose interests jour energies are so wisely 
directed. 

In the last three months, (Jan. Feb. and MaJJch) 
the Bank, altho' 7| millions had bin carried off in the 
stormin scene, has extended its loans U millions. All 
this grate effort of the Bank, gineral, has bin made 
for the relief of the poor and industrious. But your 
pets 've got money, and they won't let it out. Had 
the Bank you order us tu attack tooth and nail, and 
pull down, that it may be turn'd irtu a political estab- 
lishment, bin inclin'd tu've foUer'd the wise, prudent, 
and cautious plan of your pels, few of the merchants 
in our cities, cou'd now be standin. As you've said, 
the dealers on credit " ought iufaiP' I strongly com- 
mend the prudent means you have taken speedily tu 
eflect it. You are puttin the credit systems in the fire^ 
and when all confidence, credit, and the links of soci- 
ety are wound up, the silver, loose from dross, will run 
below, and the hull nation be soon in a blaze of glory. 

Arter all, gineral, what I telTd you in my letters 
about the Bank, in my report at the Rip Raps, was 
every word on it true. That are Biddie is jist like a 
man drivin a Coi estoga waggon, as I show you in this 
here picter. His team is a rale on^, and carries the 
bills. He'd haul his own load, and twenty on 'em are 
state Banks, pets and all, arter they'd got swampt and 
cou'dn't budge a bit. Arter they're all either broken 
down, or upset in the storm, liiddle hitches his bosses tu, 
drags em out, and puts' 'em rite, while he drives along 
safe in all weathers. 



CHAPTER XXXlt. 

All interesting conversation atween me and the gineral, 
about the principles of his administration, which is 
broken off, tu begin with in the next chapter, 

Gineral, says I, of all things I like consistency in 
a pnblic officer. The man who aint this, hadn't ought 
tu be trusted, 'cause he haint eny tixed principles, for 
it is this that gives a guarantee that in his hands their 
interests are safe. 

Major, says the gineral, aint I consistent in all my 
doins. Answer this, major. 

Gineral, says I, I didn't say you weren't consistent; 
but I'll jist tell you what was then in my mind. You 
recollect that Tobias Watkins that you put in prison, 
and kept there, 'cause he put three or Jour thousand 
dollars tu his own use of the people's money. Now, 
there aint eny doubt he was guilty, yet the fraud wasn't 
so grate as that are teller's who took sixty-three thousand 
dollars, and large lots of land, whom Amos chalk'd and 
endors'd for a place in the land -office of one of the 
western states. Now, gineral, this man warn't dis. 
turbed He was let go about his bisness; and not a 
word was said about him, while the papers teemed with 
abuse of Watkins. Now, gineral, the folks say, that 
AVatkins hadn't bin friendly tu you and the big rogue 
was. There is no doubt, gineral, that you are consist- 



238 MAJOR JACK downing's life 

ent and disinterested tu. You never tliink of yourself. 
Gineral, while standin on the sea-shore, I seed the 
waves rollin on the beachj but lookin sharp, I seed a 
strong undertow^ which carried it all back agin. Now, 
I'm afear'd there's an undertow near you. You mean one 
thing — the undertow another. The waters are mix'd, 
but both are consistently goin contrary tu each other — 
and all consistently aginst what the public say is their 
interests. 

In my letters I tell'd the public about my ax, sent 
me from Starks and Co. New York. I'll be short 
M'ilh a leetle statement of it here. When Tawney, 
and Amos, and Blare, and Barry and others were met 
one mornin in counsel tu look ovei the Post-Office ac- 
counts, which had got so tee-totally spifflicated, I thou't 
I'd bolt rite in with it, and let 'em see it. So I went 
up tu the counsel-room, and walk'd strate forrard tu 
the table, where they was sittin. On comin up tu 'em 
I held up the ax, and was jist a gwine tu tell all about 
it, when on holdin it up, and afore I cou'd speak, the 
hull on 'em except the gineral spring'd tu their feet, 
and begin'd tu scamper for bare life. I tri'd tu hed 
some on 'em, but the more I tri'd the more they 
stieakedit. Gosh! what a twitter they was in. They 
roll'd over one another, in the scamper, and danced 
jist like as many caper- merchants. Barry look'd as glum 
as Balshazzar when the hand appeared. He look'd 
for all natur as it I was gwine tu split a log, and put 
him in for a wedge. The gineral was complete fork'd. 
He look'd at me rite earnest, and arter gollopin tu or 
three mouthfuls of air, he held up his hands as if he 
thou't the day of judgment was come, 



240 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

Gineial, says I, what does all this mean ? Major, 
says the gineral, I must ax you tu splain. Why, gin- 
eral, 1 couvd here tu show you this are fine present of 
an ax, sent me from Carthage, New York. Major, 
says the gineral, call 'em are counsel-men back— haw. 
haw! haw! Major, says he, they were tryin tu settle 
accounts that had got so consarntly flabagasted— haw! 
haw! and the sudden appearance of your ax was like a 
vision of judgment among 'em. But no matter, major, 
now we understand one another, haw! haw! haw! 

AYhen the counsel break'd up, the gineral com'd tu 
me, and says, major says he, I'm vext every day with 
committees of my friends, as they call 'emselves, or 
rather inemies, from Philadelfy, New York, Baltimore, 
and all over, beggin tu have 'em are deposites restored tu 
Nic Biddle's Bank. But I'll never do it. I wish 
they wou'dn't pester me. If they all fail, as they say 
they must, I'll not restore them. It aint but stock-job- 
bers, and brokers, and men who've overtraded, or trad- 
ed on credit, that fail, and they ought tu fail. It'd be 
a blessin tu the nation if they fail. But if every man 
on 'em black, blue, and white fails, I'll go on with my 
EXPERIMENT. I'm the government, and I'll remain 
firm, and use strong measures tell my experiment is 
complete. I tell you major, that Martin is a cute crit- 
ter: he has plann'd the banks in New York, so that 
they cant never break-Why major, there's a safety 
fund, and that fund is carried all over, and if any on 
'em banks was goin tu be squeez'd, it is oney for em 
tu shake the safety fund at 'em, and all's rite agin, 
slick as a whissle. I'm gwine tu have these safe- 
ty fund banks all over the nation, major, and then 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 241 

they'll be directed by my under-cabinet, and then I'll 
make 'em are opposition folks be glad tu come tu my 
terms. It's the best system ever contriv'd. The gov- 
ernment aint never safe while this are Bank is alive, 
'cause every thing must work one way. Every opposi- 
tion must be put down, and then I can do what I 
please, for the people are all for me, and will do what 
I bid 'em. If the Bank don't act aginst me, it inay, 
but the safety-fund system is so contriv'd that there's 
no danger it'll ever oppose me; it'll be alwase on my 
side, and then we can make short work of these inde- 
pendent Philadelphians, and Nick Biddle among 'em. 
Gineral, says I, let me have a word or tu upon this 
are deposite subject, and its effects. I'm afear'd you 
are gammon'd by your hangers on, and that they im- 
pose on you. Gineral, you at one time rail aginst the 
Bank 'cause foreigners hold stock in it — you next 
select a Bank for your deposites the hull stock of 
which is owned by a foreigner. You said you'd make 
money plenty in Pennsylvany, and you then tell'd 
Blare tu make the Pennsylvanyans go tu Ingland or 
Holland and borrow. You said the Bank corrupts the 
morals of the people; and you are resolv'd that when 
the paper system is destroy'd the people will get quit 
of their corruption and their cash together. You git 
rathy when the people come tu you with their 
grievances; thereby denyin the rite tu petition, or 
that you have eny rite tu hear 'em. You call yourself 
*'the government," but by your own account, as 
stated tu me, you are oney one third of it — the Sinnet 
and Supreme Coort, tu which for a spell you've show'd 
strong opposition, are your partners in the grate work 
W 



S4£ MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 

You say the people are on your side — I amost think 
the grate struggle now is atween the office holders and 
the people, as your office holders are urgin you on tu 
obstinate resistance, which they tell you is Roman 
firmness, but which others say is obstinacy, and not firm- 
ness at all, as they can show. The folks say that your 
present position is a contest, not atween the president 
but Andrew Jackson, and the people, 'cause your 
rewards and punishments hinge upon offences or 
favours done tu Andrew Jackson, as the people never 
oppose the president. You wont let the people be the 
judge of what makes their own interests, by mockin 
their appeals, and refusin dispassionately tu hear their 
reasonings and grievances. They say you aren't a 
dimocrat, 'cause you vetoe the laws made by the people 
for their convenience^ which denies 'em the benefits 
of the action of their own representatives, puttin 
your will for theirn, and biddin 'em defiance. 

But gineral, they also say your independence, so 
much boasted of, is an obstinate self-will, preferrin 
yours tu theirn. They begin tu doubt even your pat- 
riotism, by sayin, that all your professions and pro- 
mises, in your augural speech, was a mock show ', 
that none of 'em have bin realized; that you make 
war upon the Sinnet and upon the Supreme Coort, 
threatenin the destruction of both, and that by medita- 
tion their destruction in your direct opposition, you 
ralev wished tu be above 'em in the administration of 
government. They say that if a blunder is made in 
your experiment, it will be as fatal tu the nation as those 
of a quack wou'd be tu a dyin man. They look upon 
your attack on the Bank as a personal grudge— your 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 543 

Opposition, somethin like a Welsh ejectment. The 
Irish whom you so much coax still remembei that 
when tu convicts were under sentence you sav'd 
Wilson; the worst, 'cause he was an American, 
and hang'd Porter, a merciful and brave man tho' a 
robber, 'cause he was an Irishman, and that none but 
the parasitical Irish are on your side. They also say, 
that the anonymous letters threatenin your life was like 
the empty boats set afloat on the Missippi afore the 
Battle of New Orleans; a gull tu catch flies; an 
apology, when all other power is in your hand or when 
you are about takin it intu your holy keepin, tu have a 
body guard, for your person. They say, that you 
bamboozle the people while you bring misery upon 'em; 
and that you have cacklers all over reportin what is doin 
in opposition tu your measures, so that you may be 
ready tu stash their hopes. 

Gineral, I've seed some calculations about the times 
which I want tu tell you. The people says, the United 
States Bank never did 'em no harm. Afore it was 
made, the government lost millions and the people tens 
of millions. There was grate distress, but soon as 
Nick Biddle mounted that are big Pennsylvany team, 
and crack'd his whip, every thing went on tu a miracle, 
and the people didn't never lose a dollar since. But 
as soon's your experiments begin'd, the groans and 
cries of the people begin'd with it. You think the 
folks haint no rite tu complain. Gineral, I'll tell 
ye, when readin in Aunt Nabby's Bible I seed that 
fifty thousand Bethshemites were slain 'cause some on 
'em jist look\l intu the ark of the covenant. Now 
Nick Biddle's Bank aint the ark the Jews look'd intu; 



£44 



MAJOR JACK DOWNING'^S LIFE 



but its the ark of a covenant made with the people of 
these United States, thro' their represintatives. This 
covenant was solemnly ratified accordin tu the Consti- 
tution you took 'em are oaths tu. In agreement with 
this covenant the Bank indd a million and a half dol- 
lars! For this mity sum, the government pledged its 
sacred character and honer tu place in it for safe 
keepin, and give 'em their use tell the government 
wanted 'em, all the revenue in deposit. The Bank went 
along tu a charm, paid all its drafts, took care of the 
public revenue, made bad notes good ones, and sent 
the hull grist of note shavers tu grass. Well, gene- 
ral, when you com'd tu direct the government you jist 
look'd intu the Bank as the Bethshemites did iiltu the 
ark, and moie than fifty thousand of the folks were 
commercially ded in a nite! The angel of deth 
martch'd rite over the land, carryin terror and despair 
along with him. You becom'd a covenant breaker jist 
'cause the Bank warnt on the safety-fund system — 
that is, a political kimbaw with secret wire workers^ 
a golden c«^ which all who depend on bank discounts 
wou'd bow tu, if they'd-hope for help, and which, by 
this glorious plan, worthy of honest Martin, cou'd 
command more votes and more homage than any other^ 
while the wire workers with the safety-fund wou'd 
snigger at the success of the trick, and bid defiance tu 
ail opposition. ' • 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

1 put in my picter, and with the gineraVs permission 
continue tu tell him what folks say of him, I git 
my slate and sifer up the public losses occasioned by 
the Bank vetoe. I tell the gineral very important 
matters worth knowin 

Gineral, I'm alwase afear'd somethin is rong when 
a public officer or his friends won't hear what their in- 
emies saj, nor allow their doins tu be examined pub- 
liclj. Now, gineral, jour popularity can stand Qny 
things and your inemies say, that 'cause it can stand 
so much, you want tu try how much it can stand, jist 
as rope makers try the power of cables. It is very 
common for strong men tu presume. Sampson threw 
down a temple by catchin hold and shakin one of 
its main pillars, but he died with his inemies,. and 
he did it tu revenge his eyes. But gineral, your 
opponents say you have bin deprived of your eyes 
and cant see without Martin's specks. I hope, if this 
is so, you won't throw down our constitutional temple 
and bury us all in its ruins. They say the hull coun- 
try is in distress, and that you have caus'd it by lookin 
intu the people's covenant Bank when you oughtn't tu 
have done it, and, like Neb-nezzar when he pfundered 
the temple, have carried off its treasures so that the 
people don't know where you have laid 'em. Now, 
Gineral, let us git a slate and sifer this business 4 l^etU 

W li 




JACK DOWNING, 

Sijerin icp the people's loss thro' the Bank Vetoe^ 



i 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 247 

spell, and see how much the people have lost, atween 
you and the Bank, 

There are 13 millions of folks in these States. Pll 
suppose 'em all full grown, and will allow a bushel of 
wheat for each every tu weeks tu each, and say nothin 
about hoss and pig feed, or surplus for exportin. This'Ii 
make 26 bushels a jear, or 338 millions bushels in all. 
They say the average fall of price in grain is S7i cents 
a bushel. This wou'd be ^126,800,000 loss tu the 
flirmers! There is 800 houses less contracted for in 
Philadelfy this year than the last. At the same rate 
I'll suppose in all the cities and town a fallin oft* of 
3500, at an average, when built and furnished, of $14 
millions loss tu builders! The price of real estate is say 
3000 millions of dollars. This has fallen, 1-6 or $500 
millions loss tu the property holders! The manufac- 
tures have a capital invested in works which has bin 
stopt, of #25,000, 000 from which 20 millions was paid 
tu workman! There is 75 millions aflote in Bank bills 
which pays an average discount on the internal exchange 
of 10 per cent, or 7,500,000! There is 100 millions, 
notes of hand afloat, which must now pay an average 
of 10 per cent discount tu the Pontius Pilates, makin 
10,000,000. The shippin laid up, the sacrifices on stocks 
at puulic sales, the sums necessary tu keep an increased 
number of paupers, and other matters may be estima- 
ted at 10,000,000, besides about 20,000,000 in pros- 
pective losses. All these added makes 708 millions 
500 thousand!! Now, gineral, this is a perdigious 
loss! It is the effects of a cause,* you, or the bank, is 
that cause, and you mutually throw it on each other. 
Let me examin it a leetle, gineral, and see where 

/ 



S48 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

lies the source of this evil. I didn't hear a breath of 
complaint aginst the United States Bank, till it came 
from your first message when you got tu be president. 
You then denounced it. You call'd it up in the na- 
tion's councils. The Bank met the call, and ax'd for 
a new charter. You then said the Bank was tu early 
makin that call, and throw'd blame on the Bank, tho' 
yourself brou't it forrard. You commenc'd an attack 
on the Bank which injured the price of its stocks; and 
'cause the Directors endeavor'd, as honest men, tu 
preserve its reputation and keep up the price of its 
stocks by publishin the condition of its finances, and 
by refutin erroneous statements, you made its defence, 
and its havin paid the expences of its defence, one of 
its sins — a charge why it shou'd be destroy'd. But the 
people by their represintatives said you rong'd the 
Bank, but you vetoed it tu prove you was rite. The" 
folks say that you are array'd aginst it, 'cause Martin' 
wants it tu go tu Wall street, and become a safety fund 
Bank. They say that your opposition is personal and 
political., 'cause it wont come intu, and be under., the 
direction of your under) or as some call it drippin- 
pan Cabinet! Now, I'm of the opinion, gineral that 
if you had've let the Bank alone all wou'd've bin pros- 
perous. The Bank, in eighteen years, have brou't our 
country from a ruinous currency tu a sound one. The 
notes of the Bank were preferred even tu specie. The 
country was posperous, trade was brisk, manufacters i 
flourish'd,the poor was comfortable, and the rich cou'dn't 
speck'late upon 'em. Now, gineral, the tables are 
turn'd. The poor is a prey to the rich 5 the Brokers 
are reapin their harvest, the poor are sacrificin their 



Of GENERAL JACKSON. 249 

hard earned gatherins tu pay their creditors, which in 
fair times they cou'dve done without sacrificing those, 
who have money at command are fattenin upon^the 
public distress; the manufacteries are stopt, and tens of 
thousands of hands left in want; the price of agricul- 
ture is down, and farmers can't pay their taxes, their 
store debts, or their hands; carpenters and bricklay- 
ers, and masons, and lumbermen, and the millions who 
draw their subsistance in this way, are out of employ, 
and lackin bread. It wont do tu say they must go tu 
the Bank, as you did tu the mechanics' associations of 
New York and Philadelty when they waited on you. 

You threaten the Bank with ruin, and blame it for 
usin means tu save its existence. The Bank wards oft' 
your blows, and shows the public that it does fourfold 
more for 'em than your pets, tu which you sent the 
prog. You have bin sworn tu sustain the laws, and 
yet, without showin a good. reason, even the picture of 
an argument, you break /to law, and rob the stock- 
holder and, the United States .of millions in the depre- 
ciation of stock, and then make a mock accusation 
against it for.spendin •<! few hundreds in an effort tu 
prevent the greater evil of millions loss! Gineral, I 
fear posterity will put the bl^me on you. The power 
is on your side ; but all else is aginst you. Let the 
deposites be restor'd. Let the people have confidence 
that the currency of the country will not be disturbed, 
and the financiers, who have s^udiec^he subject, will 
soon make all right. Gineral, no man is so positive as 
he who is misled or mistaken. You do not suspect 
yourself. In the midst of your confidence the people 
suffer, and you are unwillin tu hear the people when 



250 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 

they implore you. It matters not, if even, as you as- 
sert, the Bank be first in fault ; as it was n't charged 
by the people with any fault tell you begin 'd upon it, 
the sin will at last fall with tremendis weight upon 
you, and the people, who almost worshiped you, if you 
do not place things as they were and show 'em that if 
the blame be really the bank's it must all lie at its door, 
and that you will bear none of it, will arou?e trom the 
scourge you inflict, a reaction will follow, and instead 
of tiieir blessins, you will close your eyes in deth 
amid the howlins and hisses of an enraged and abus'd 
people! Remimber, your friend Jack Downing warns 
you. 

Now, gineral, there is n't no good come of havin tu 
much learnin. Since they made you a Doctor of Laws, 
your so nation cute at seein intu things that it don't re- 
require eny study at all. The ambition of some men, and 
the wants of others, are the sources of amostall civil dis- 
cord. The worst conducted governments alwase cost 
most, 'cause they are constantly out of repair. The peo- 
ple, tu honer you and save the national character, begin 
tu think that a divorse is as necessary from the imder,3.nd 
it has bin from the upper cabinet. The preferment of 
knaves is not so much an honer tu 'em, as dishoner tu 
him that raises 'em. You are charged with having in 
your confidence underserved favourites, who bein un- 
known tu the constitution, the laws, or the people, mis- 
lead and prompt you. Whatsomever may be th0 cause, 
the people now mourn. The ruler may mean well, 
but the effects are bad— the people are deceived— they 
suffer, and though they may awhile lay the blame as 
you bid 'em, yet when they cease tu take things at 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. ^5l 

secondhand, and /eeZ a little more, they will discover 
the cause and there'll be a grate takin tu task, I tell je. 
The people are like a drowsy lion in his lair. Hunger 
will rouse 'em ; and when they are fairly up, it'll be 
hard tu make 'em belive the Bank in fault, in spite of 
all your office holders tell 'em, when they can't sec 
where they have lost a dollar by it tho' they can 
see where they have gain'd thousands. 

The declaration that *' people who deal on credit ought 
tu break,^* has open'd ihe eyes of some, and alarm'd 
all. What must be the effects of sich a course if per- 
sever'd in. The poor can't never find comfort or sub- 
sistence without credit. This is the dependence of the 
poor in this country. In other countries, where there 
isn't no credit, the poor become the slaves for life of 
the rich. There is n't no help for 'em, if no one*ll trust, 
and men have n't no capital, they must sell 'emselves 
and families tu the rich, and be servants forever. What 
I'm afear'd of, gineral, is this, that the poor who de- 
pind or credit, will find out that you think 'em a set of 
spoonies who'll gulp down all the hummers your slang- 
whangers tell 'em, and get rathy at your office holders 
and you ; for as soon's they examin intu this are 
bisness, they'll see at a glance, that by your system 
the poor oney suffer, and that the advantage is on the 
side of the rich. You'd better be cautious that they 
don't see it. 



■^■ 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Conversation atween me and the gineral about the 
Bank, The effects of havin many^ and especially 
political Banks. Some reynarks about Duane, and 
Glory, and the Filadelfy Quaker, and office holders. 

Says, the gineral, major, says he, that are Nick 
Biddle I'm determin'd tu make feel my hottest wrath. 
What do you think, he says most of the State Banks 
exist by the forbearance of his Bank. Now, I'll show 
him what it is . tu spare the State Banks, as I did in 
my vetoe message. I'm rathy at that feller, for there 
isn't no way (»f gettin at him except by makin what 
he publishes tu the world as the good qualities of his 
Bank bad ones. He says, he does what he can tu 
spare the State Banks. Now the power tu spare the 
State Banks shou'dn't be giv'd tu him. None shou'd 
have power but me, 'cause the people approves of all I 
do. 

Gineral, says I, this puts me in mind of the man 
■who whipt his wife when she hadn't committed no 
fault. She ax'd him what her fault was. ^ ^othin, says 
he, but for fear you shou'd! Now, gineral, says I, this 
is a hard case. You know I help'd you tu storm that 
are Bank, and as my pay don't come from it, but 
from you, I don't care about it a fig; but as we are 
talkin about it, and as the Bank is absent, I'll ax leave 
tu defend it, a bit. You know what I read tu yourn 
cabinet in my proclamation. I there tell'd you that 



MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE S,54 

the people wou*d have a big Bank — one strong enuff tu 
do the work well— tu clear out all the trash — tu col- 
lect the rale money in the country — tu send out bills 
that the people wou'd be sure was safe and that'd pass 
all over the States without shavin. In my Proclama- 
tion, a picture of which I give tu let you see how I 
stood, and how the council sot, I tell'd how the people 
and the Bank agreed, the one tu put the depositcs in 
the Bank, and the other tu give a million and a half 
of money for our use as pay for it. 

I also tell'd how Squire Biddle with his Bank, like 
a grate Conestoga Waggon, was started tu reg'late the 
leetle Banks, and make 'em go rite. Now, gineral, 
the man who is tu reg'late the small Banks, must have 
some controllin influence somehow, or they wou'dn't 
behave rite. If the small Banks exist oney by his for- 
bearance, as you said in your vetoe, and that forbear- 
ance is exerted tu help the weak, tu incourage the 
doubtful, and tu put down those that won't pay the 
people their bills when they ax specie for 'em, how, 
gineral, are we tu get a Bank that'll do better? This 
big Bank drove fifty million of notes out of circulation 
when it got up, that warn't worth jist nothin, and 
were n't known oney a few miles round the place where 
they were issued. But it did more. It put down a 
grate many Banks that hadn't no specie tu pay at all, 
and sav'd the people the necessity of takin notes 
of Banks that were nothin better than swindlin shops. 
Gineral, the more Banks, the more chances there is of 
the folks bein cheated, 'cause there'll alwase be some 
among 'em rogues and knaves. Rogues alwase try tu get 
intu places were money is, and though they don't al- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. ^55 

wase succeed, jet tu the grate loss of the public, thej 
sometimes do. Now, the more Banks the more chance 
there is, as I said, of bein cheated; but what is quite 
as bad, the more political knaves have a chance tu 
corrupt the people when they git in. Now, gineral, 
Bank directors are like other men. These leetle wag- 
gons, tho* they have some good, and liberal, and honest 
men among 'em, have some who aren't so a bit. 

They intrigue for favour. The poor askin for a dis- 
count, must be of the rite kidney,or he can't get the need- 
ful. The parties in politics intrigue tu have a seat in 
the Boards. The parties in religion prefer their own 
tu others; at these Boards prejudice, and bigotry, and 
party, and interest all are strugglin; and one bad man 
can ruin or oppress many honest men 'cause he can 
work sly: the honest arn't the most managin tu git a 
seat at sich Boards; they don't intrigue, they suppose 
the purity of their character a sufficient recommenda- 
tion, and rest on it. But, gineral, they are tu often 
mistaken. The intriguing, white-livered knave is more 
active, cunning, and successful than he is, and one 
or tu sich men in a Board does grate mischief. 

Others agin become Directors tu enable 'em tu pos- 
sess facilities and means of speculatin upon the poor. 
A poor man has his note thrown out. Some one finds it 
out, and recommends himtu oneof the Pontius Pilatcs, 
who has a friend in Bank, cut and dry, tu furnish the 
money. This note is shaved at 24 per cent, and the 
poor, honest man, is a sufferer by the sharks who stand 
ready tu devour him, aided by some of the Banks you 
are so anxious tu cherish. 

Gineral, this picter of Bank Directors isn't general. 



2.76 MAJOR JACK DOWMNG*S LIFE OF 

Some on 'em are gootl, honest, and liberal? ready iu 
!iel{3 tlie poor and industrious, but gineral thej are n't 
all so, and the more Banks the more of these you mul- 
tiply, an<l the more the poor are the suft'erers. Be- 
lieve me, gineral, no Bank United States can injure ihe 
government or the people in any way so readily as when 
it takes sides with and suppoits all the measures of the 
government. The government is alwase ready tu op- 
]ose and expose it, if it is hostile, and its limited char- 
ter will ever be a check tu any overt act of hostility^ 
but if it take sides with and become the servile instru- 
ment of the government, it is impossible tu save owr 
liberties, if there be a cunnin Kitchen Cabinet tu stand 
behind the screen, and work things as it may with 
sich glorious means as the Bank'il put intu its power. 
Beware of a government Bank, or a Bank that sap- 
ports the intrigues of government — they are equally 
dangerous tu liberty! 

Gineral, I'm peskil y afear'd that are Duanebisness will 
make Pennsylvania open its eyes, and see w hat we're 
at. Your anxiety tu take more ri'spoiisibility upon you 
than the laws or the usages of your ^'illustrious prede- 
cessors" have required of you, the folks say show a 
de.«ire on your part tu invade the ancient land- marks. 
Sartin, it'll require considerable explainin tu make it 
stjate. That Duane is a nation cute critter? for he 
comes out letter arter letter, and the last aUvase hits 
hardest. I recommend you tu preserve a brown study, 
fur if you speak you're dishni up. and in this aft'air 
the better part of valour is siler.ce. 

Astu the Bank, when you made your attack on it 
the hull nation was all on one side. Nobody didn't 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 257 

say nothin aginst it. Every body was praisin it. But all 
at onct,when you found out that it was doin or might do 
harm, you started the fox, the hull nation of office hold- 
ers cried tally-ho! and the office seekers,who al wase try 
tu hed the political faxions and make speeches cri'd, 
4' down with the Bank ! Break up public credit! Let 
nothin but specie, except the notes of State Banks, be 
the currency!"— Now, gineral, the people all stand 
round with their eyes and their fly-trap open tu catch 
your motion. If you say black's white, I swou, they 
swear its so! They oney want tu know what's your 
desire, and it'll be done. They are all Dimocrats, gin- 
eral, and proud of their independence. Them are 
fideralists tu, are first in praisin you. They're the 
chief incense-swingers, and take more pains tu butter 
you up than those the dye tub had transmogrified. That 
areFiladelfy Quaker tu,who rites for the Globe,makes as 
much noise in our cause as if he hadn't bin a wool- 
dy'd fideralist; and now he tries tu make his peace with 
our party by an excess of zeal. Why, gineral, he'll 
cling tu you like a pizin vine, and in the same way, 
for he aims tu hide you in his tendrils, or give you 
a cornish hug that'll up-set you. But /ace;— gineral, 
when a Quaker comes on our side, snitch him: its 
either becase he's tweagueish, or in bad oder among his 
own folks, or has some sinister design. He isn't nev- 
ernaturally on our side, and when he comes he's like a 
bird of bad omen. 

The tu parties, gineral, now in this country, I'm 

thinkin, are the office holders, and the people. Arter 

considerable thinkin on it I've concluded that the office 

holders '11 beat Jist say eny thing you please this 

W 2 



258 MAJOR JACK DOWNIX&*S LIFE 

d.iy, and the otfice halders will call a meetin, and the 
work's done. Say another thing next day, and they'll 
contradict it. Why, gineral, there's wonderful magic 
in your opinions; there's no resistin 'em; they are the 
rale doctt ine for republicans. Your administration has 
bin in a blaze of glory, ever since you ascended that 
are chair, for if you haven't bin smabblin 'em Inglish 
or Ingins, you have bin at war with every party, aind 
person, and principle, and practice, and precept, in the 
hull nation, except what was recommended by Amos. 
You have never bin able tu form a cabinet that cou'd 
cordially support you. Tu please your under cabinet, 
or defend Mrs. E , or becase they wou'dn't do you bid- 
din without regard tu their principles, consciences, 
or sense of propriety, you blew 'em up ski-high; you 
were in acontinewal blaze of glory, and the nation in a 
constant state of excitement sicli as has bin afore un- 
known tu it. Look, gineral, at the cause. Isn't it 
'cause you are more knowin, and learned, and patriot- 
ic than all your predecessors? Isn't it 'cause you 
want tu leave illustrious precepts for your successors 
tu follow.^ Isn't it 'cause you have around you so 
much glory, that you alone are in the light and the peo- 
ple in the darkness? The office holders don't want lite, 
gineral, except what emanates from the brightness of 
your countenance. They live in your lite; they reflect 
your lite, they throw fuel on the blaze tu increase that 
lite, and they cry hozanna, and spread their palms 
afore you; while the people crowd around 'em, catch the 
sound, and rend the skies with hooras which they 
start for their own exclusive interests. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Conclusion, in which I tell the gineral some things 
useful tu know, and giv'd him my advice. The 
gineral thankful for my information. I conclude 
with a warnin. 

Gineral, as the prosperity of the country is bein af- 
fected by the dispute atween you and the Bank, 1 
beg one word more on this subject. The assertion 
made in a paper- read to your Cabinet statin that 
a political warfare existed atween you and the Bank, 
was the first intimation either the Bank or the people 
ever had that politics had ought tu do in the matter. 
The people never dreamt of it. They thou't oney of 
hoorain and hoistin hickory brooms on poles. By the 
way, there's some danger in these are brooms. Ad- 
miral Van Tromp, who had bin the terror of England, 
when he entcr'd the battle that squenched his mili- 
tary glory, had a broom at his mast hed, an emblem of 
his power,as if tu say, " I'll sweep the seas of you;" but 
the next day he was himself swept off'the ocean, and his 
power destroy'd. You are charged with corruption 
and bribery in bargainin with Governor Wolf tu give 
him a loan of the people's money if he wcu'd join tu 
decry a bank he had afore considered essential tu the 
public good. But I'm fear*d the governor has fled tu 
the rong protection, and like a thief hidden in a hemp 



260 



MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 



plot, is conceal'd by that which will in the eend de- 
stroy him, 

Gineral, the hull country is on the move. They 
wont tu sittle down till they find out where the evil is 
that makes 'em feel so bad. They are inquirin. It'll 
not do tu quote knaves and fools for information, which 
when given makes you ridiculous. That are king of 
Spain's trumpeter in Philadelfy, who announced tu you 
sich a hummer, about Mr. Brown havin borrow'd a 
million from Squire Biddle's Bank when he didn't 
owe it a single dollar, is like a nation site of informa- 
tion you get. You believe all your friends say; you 
believe no one else; you cheapen your dignity, and give 
yourself a trim-tram standin with sich fellers, that ar- 
ter a while your believin every packet from every hobinol 
that tries tu diddle you, will prove that the public 
ruin is founded upon a mere tarradiddle that gammon'd 
you, and upon which you shou'dn't've acted till inquiry 
had foUer'd information. The acting hastily as the 
dupe of a fool may be glory, gineral, but it'll be hard tu 
find the rite kind of fuel tu keep this glory in a blaze. 

I've a word or tu more tu say, gineral, tu show you 
that you've bin deeeiv'd, and that dependin on that de- 
ception you in turn deceive. It is this : In addition tu your 
mockery of the public suffeiin, you've bin hoardin up 
your rath and vengeance tu pour it on Biddle's Bank, 
while that Bank was keepin up the people whom 
your pet Bank was breakin down. For instance, the 
public Deposits in December, in the Gineral Bank was 
$1,177,875,84, and in February, $1,345,230,82, bein 
an increased amount of government deposites of $167,- 
354,98, while the decrease of discounts upon this in- 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 



261 



crease of deposites was $425,799— that is, there is 
$593,153,98 dollars lying in your Bank which might be 
discounted for the people's accomodation, but which, had 
it bin in Squire Biddle's Bank, wou'd've bin all in cir- 
culation for the public good. 

Says the gineral, major, says he, I've bin thinkin 
over what you tell'd me. It has amost pos'd me; 1 
thou't I was doin all for the good of my people; and if 
what you tell'd me be true, I must have bin grately 
misled by some one. I am rite glad, major, that you 
have had the honesty tu tell me what the people say 
about my doins; accept my thanks, and be assured that 
I shall regard you as my friend much more than the 
flatterers who conceal the facts, and prompt me tu 
measures leadin tu their own interests instead of the 
people's good. 

Gineral, says I, I'll stick tu you thro' life and deth; 
and as I don't flatter, you may look upon me as a true 
friend. I'm now about tu close this book, and i beg 
leave tu make a few partin reflections by way of advice. 
Your public acts arn't alwase jist what'll be hereafter 
regarded as models of republicanism. You generally 
intend well; but virtue looses itself and becomes vice, 
in every attempt tu make it do that which is 
contrary tu law, justice, or usage — tho' no vice can be- 
come a virtue. The spirit of party may be useful, but 
it becomes a vice when the chief ruler becomes the 
avowed and ostensible h^d of it. The moment he 
arrays himself against any part of the ruled, the line 
of separation is drawn — he must either prove his 
general conduct and principles good, or he is in dan- 
ger. The people may be misled for a while, but they 



262 MAJOR JACK DOWNINO'S LIFE 

will not be long so. The ruler, if he acts inconsistent 
with sound and honest principles, can never draw vir- 
tuous and honest men tu his side 'cause he can't 
corrupt 'em. Then corruption becomes a regular 
system; and as good and honest men can't be brou't 
over, all accessions tu the side of power is from the 
base, while it looses the virtuous and good. Now, 
this class may be oppress'd and persecuted, but it 
will increase in a free country. In this country your 
opposers, gineral, — for you have no inemies, — are fast 
increasing from the ranks of the good and the great; 
while wealth, and talent, and enterprise are coming out 
strong aginst your measures . Do you think the present 
congress will rise durin this hull congressional year? I 
perdictthey won't. They distrust your abilities, gine- 
ral, and this arises more from their utter distrust tu 
your faxious and irresponsible advisers, than tu you. 
You've laid your hand upon and seized the public 
purse. This the people will never consent tu. You 
have said, you were without sympathy for commercial 
men dealin on credit, and that they should fail! You 
have allow'd your official paper tu defame all who 
don't think your measures the best. With its repro- 
bate editor no man's reputation is safe. With him, slan- 
der is a trade and railing a commodity, 'cause he gets his 
livin by decryin every man opposed who has any re- 
putation tu lose. He is a kind of scribler who at once 
satisfies his itch for ritin, his petulance, his malice or 
envy, and his necessity. 

Be assured, gineral, the cause of truth will finally 
prevail, Bad rulers do for ^emselves,\\\\2ii the Jews did 
for Christ. They plat their own crown of thorns, and 



OF GENERAL JACKSON. 263 

put it upon their own heds. You, gineral, I'm afear'd 
have sinned. It isn't enufF that jou repent, you must 
also forsake, or the people '11 forsake you. This is a 
day of gloom and dismays the poor will find, that upon 
their heds the heaviest part of the calamity must fall, and 
that the blow comes from you. In this discovery the bit- 
terness of their reproaches will overwhelm you, and if 
you do not change your course, the anticipations of the 
konjurer will be realised when he pointed out the dange- 
rous influence of Sattern in your horryskope, and im- 
plor'd heaven tu avert it. Think of the Horryskope, 
gineral, and — be warx'd. 



THE END. 



^^ 



